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22
DEATHS IN RELATION TO DISEASE.
In Table III, of the Local Government Board series of statistical tables, which is
given at page 92, full information is given as to the causes of, and ages at death
during the year.
According to custom, at this point, it is proposed to consider more fully with
regard to certain of the causes.
Diarrhceal Diseases.
For the reason that these contributed more than twice as many deaths than in
1910, special reference should be made to them. The total number of deaths was 92,
the death rate being 0.82 per 1,000. The number of deaths in the years 1908, 1909
and 1910 were 55, 45 and 40.
For the increase in 1911 climatic conditions alone were responsible. As
mentioned in previous reports, diarrhoeal affections are much more common in warm
dry summers, and it is very many years since a summer so warm and dry as that of
1911 was experienced.
It was in fact a typical " diarrhoea " year, and it was expected that there would
be a considerable increase in the number of deaths from the epidemic form especially.
The increase, however, was less than had been anticipated and this may be placed
to the credit of the sanitary administration in the Borough in connection both with
educational and practical work.
Amongst infants and young children, unfortunately, liability to diarrhoea is very
great, and a fatal termination not uncommon. Reference has already been made to
the fact that 66 infants died of diarrhoeal diseases (49 diarrhoea, 17 enteritis). In the
three previous years, the number did not exceed 35.
The work undertaken for the prevention of the spread of diarrhoea amongst
children has already been described, and details given of the special observations made
at the Infant Consultation in the north district.
In the course of their work during the hot months of the summer, the women
inspectors reported the discovery of a considerable number of cases of diarrhoea
amongst children over one year of age, and the conclusion arrived at was that liability
to attack was almost greater amongst these than amongst babies under 1. The
number of deaths of children of between 1 and 2 was, however, comparatively small,
viz., 12.
Zymotic Diseases, Phthisis etc. and Respiratory Diseases.
These three causes usually contribute very largely to the total number of deaths
and in the report of 1909 a table showing the actual number due to each and the rate