View report page

ii.
The smallest total of cases of scarlet fever in any year (277) was recorded in 1905,
when the cases among children of school ages (3-13 years) formed 66 per cent. of the total.
In the three years (1902-04) preceding 1905, and in the three years following (1906-08), the
annual average numbers of cases have been 379 and 658. In the second period the average
at all ages shows an increase of 74 per cent., that at school ages 78 per cent. The cases at
school ages formed 69 per cent. of the total in the first period and 71 per cent. in the second.
It appears, therefore, that the increased prevalence of the disease in the second period fell
more heavily on school children than on the rest of the population.
The death rate during 1908 (12.36) is the lowest yet recorded, and is more than 1 per cent.
1,000 below that for 1907 (13.46), and 4.52 per 1,000 below the mean rate for 1891-95 (16.88).
That fall in the rate is equivalent to a saving of 680 lives in one year. Comparing the mean
rate for 1904-08 (13.04) with that for 1891-95 (16.88), a diminution in the former rate equal
to 3.84 is noted—representing a saving of over 2,750 lives during the five years.
The differences between the rates of last year and the mean rates for 1903-07 are given
(passim) in the report. Although in nearly every case the differences are in favour of the
past year, too much importance cannot be attached thereto owing to the fluctuations in
morbidity and mortality which take place from year to year. I venture to think, however,
that the Council is to be congratulated on the improvement in the health of the Borough
indicated by the comparison between the mean rates for 1904-08, and those for 1891-95 (see
below).
Mean Rates. Mean Rates.
Index Index
Number Number
1891-95 1904.08 1891-95 1904-08
Smallpox 0.008 0.002 25 Puerperal Fever 0.04 0.02 55
Measles 0.32 0.25 78 Other Septic Diseases 0.10 0.10 98
Scarlet Fever 0.16 0.07 47 Epidemic Influenza 0.60 0.31 52
Whooping Cough 0.41 0.19 45 Alcoholism 0.06 0.08 134
Diphtheria 0.46 0.10 21 Apoplexy 0.75 0.38 51
Enteric Fever 0.12 0.04 33 Bronchitis 2.28 1.23 54
Diarrhoea 0.82 0.62 75 Pneumonia 1.24 0.95 77
Phthisis 1.30 1.03 79 Cirrhosis of Liver 0.12 0.16 132
Other Tuberculous Dis. 0.65 0.35 54 Acc. and Dis. of Parturition 0.09 0.06 62
"Cancer" 0.86 1.11 129 Suicide 0.11 0.09 81
* Value of Mean Rate, 1904-08, mean, 1891-95 = 100.
Three causes of death only gave higher rates in the second period, viz., cancer,
alcoholism, and cirrhosis of the liver, the increase in mortality from cancer being doubtless
due to two factors, namely, lengthened duration of life and greater accuracy of diagnosis.
As regards the figures for apoplexy, some doubt is entertained whether the reduction
be not due to a change in system of classification dating from 1901, but there is no such doubt
about the figures for bronchitis and pneumonia.
All the rates from the infectious diseases show very satisfactory reductions. Seeing
that scarlet fever has been unusually prevalent during the last three years, it is surprising that
there should have been a decrease of 53 per cent. in its mortality rate. The mildness of the