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1905]
84
RESPIRATORY DISEASES.
These diseases, which annually cause a very large proportion of the total
deaths, include among others Acute and Chronic Bronchitis, Pneumonia,
Pleurisy and Asthma, and were responsible for 1,007 deaths, of which 336
occurred in the first quarter, 222 in the second, 96 in the third and 353 in the
fourth, from which return it will be seen that they were most fatal in the first
and fourth quarters. They resulted in a death rate of 2.93 per 1,000 of the
population and they formed per 20.3 cent, of the mortality of the year.
Bronchitis, Acute.—This disease was credited with 175 deaths, 86
being females, and 89 males, of which 73 were infants under one year old,
while there were also 114 among children under five years old.
Bronchitis, Chronic.—This disease was responsible for 344 deaths,
nearly all of which occurred among people over 45 years of age. It was fatal
to 155 males and 189 females.
Pneumonia was registered as causing 426 deaths, of which 129 occurred
in the first quarter, 117 in the second, 42 in the third and 138 in the fourth.
The deaths among males were 243 and amongst females 183.
The great fatality of this disease among infants and very young children
has been pointed out in previous reports, and therefore it is not surprising
to find that 1905 was no exception to the general rule, for it was fatal to 107
infants under 1 year and to 113 among children above that age but under 5
years, thus making a total of 220 children under the latter age. Altogether
there died from Bronchitis, Pneumonia and the other respiratory diseases
188 infants under 12 months old, and 349 children under five years old, thus
making a total of 537.
The large number of deaths at these ages from these diseases is a striking
testimony to the want of care and attention shown by parents to their young
offspring, particularly those that are infants, for many of these deaths from
these respiratory diseases would never have occurred if they had been
paid to them. Exposure to night air, cold winds, and bad weather in company
with their mothers are without doubt considerable factors in the causation
of Bronchitis and Pneumonia among infants.