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16
It will be noted that the mortality of the Southern Division
exceeds that of the Northern mainly in respect of the deaths from
Measles, Diphtheria, Diarrhoea, Scarlet Fever, Phthisis, and other
tubercular diseases, and Premature Birth ; and if these deaths were
grouped according to the ages at which death occurred, it would be
found that by far the largest number would be allotted to the first five
years of life. The mortality from Cancer, on the other hand, was
disproportionately high in the Northern Division.
In my Reports for 1897, 1898, 1899, and 1900, attention was
drawn to the loose manner in which the cause of death is sometimes
registered, and the difficulties which this fact gives rise to in compiling
an accurate classification. During last year the returns
continued to show some improvement, but in several cases during the
year the cause of death was registered as from two distinct diseases,
apparently co-existent. ("Influenza, Pneumonia, Rheumatic Gout";
"Senile Decay, Shock from Burns"; "Acute Dyspepsia, Failure of
Heart.") Doubtless, the symptoms of one complaint were predominant
just before death, and if this circumstance were indicated it
would be far easier to decide which disease could be most justly
credited with the death for the purpose of classification.