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6
DEATHS IN RELATION TO DISEASE.
Diarrhœal Diseases.—The total number of deaths registered as due to diarrhoea
and enteritis (inflammation of the bowels) was 28, equal to 0.28 per 1,000 of the
population.
The majority of the deaths, viz., 21, occurred amongst infants under 1 year of
age. In 19-15 the number of deaths was 38, and the rate 0.37 per 1,000.
Tuberculosis.—The total deaths caused by phthisis (consumption) and other
conditions due to the germ of tuberculosis was 186. Of these, 151, were due to
phthisis; the age periods at which they occurred being 2-5 years, 1 (.6 per cent.);
5-15 2 (1.3 per cent.); 15-25, 21 (13.8 per cent.); 25-45, 52 (34.4 per cent.);
45-65, 68 (45 per cent.) ; 65 and over, 14 (9.2 per cent.)
Respiratory Diseases.—The number of deaths due to bronchitis, pneumonia
and other diseases of the organs of respiration was 364, and the death rite 3.67 per
1,000. Of this number, bronchitis caused 191 and pneumonia 149.
Cancer or Malignant Disease caused 144 deaths, the death-rate being 1.4 per
1,000 of the population.
INFECTIOUS OR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
The table with regard to these diseases will be found on page 23. The total
number of notifications received during 1916 was 1,317, the actual number of cases
notified being 1,249.
Diphtheria and, Membranous Croup.—The number of cases notified was 135, of
whom 127 were removed to hospital and 7 died. The case mortality rate was
5.2 per cent. The cases were not limited to any particular district. The number of
swabs submitted from doubtful cases for bacteriological examination was 195 and a
positive result was returned in 39 instances.
Scarlet Fever.—The notifications numbered 120, the lowest figure for some
years. The disease was of a mild type and there was only 1 death.
Enteric Fever.—There were 13 cases notified, none of which calls for special
comment. The deaths from enteric fever numbered 3.
Cerebro-Spinal (Spotted) Fever.—-The notifications received numbered 8. The
actual number of cases being 7 Of the 7, 3 had died before notification was
received.
The first notification came to hand on 22nd January, the total number for that
month being 2, and in each of the months of Maich, April, June, August and
September there was 1 case. Of the patients 3 were males and 4 females; 2 were
less than 1 year old; 1 was less than 2; 1 was aged 18½ (this was a military case
and proved rapidly fatal); 1 was 13½ and was notified after admission to a nursing
home in the Borough ; 1 was 17 and another 14.
The fatal cases were a girl of 14, who died within 24 hours of the onset of
symptoms ; a child 1 year and 3 months, who was ill for over a fortnight. The third
case was the military one referred to above.
There was no connection between the various cases and none of them gave rise
to further cases amongst persons immediately in contact with them. In each