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42
DEATHS IN RELATION. TO DISEASE.
A list of the causes of deaths, with the ages at which they occurred, will be
found in Table III. of the Ministry of Health series on page 81. This Table
also shows the distribution of deaths according to causes in the various registration
sub-districts.
The following notes with regard to certain of the causes which contributed most
largely to the death rate, may be of interest.
DIARRHŒAL DISEASES.
The total number of deaths registered as due to diarrhœa and enteritis
(inflammation of the bowels), was 25, equal to 0.23 per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst
infants, and in 1925 this was the case also, no fewer than 22 of the 25 beingchildren
under 1 year of age.
In 1924 the deaths from diarrhœal diseases numbered 18, and of this number
15 were babies. In 1925, therefore, there was an increase in the total over 1924,
but a slight decrease over 1919 when the total was 29, the figure for children
under 1 year of age being 23.
Deaths from diarrhœal diseases always vary most markedly with the weather
conditions, being higher when the summer is warm and dry, lower when it is cold
and wet.
They vary also with the sanitary condition of the district and the amount of
welfare work done on behalf of the babies.
The year 1925, from the point of view of weather, was not what might be
called a " diarrhœa year," and doubtless this accounts for part of the fall. Much
was also due to welfare work; and even to sanitary work some credit must be
given. Taking all things into consideration, indeed, it may be taken as reflecting
credit on all parties concerned, the mothers of the babies and health workers alike,
that the death figure was no higher than 25.
Particularly in relation to diarrhœa amongst children, a very great deal of
educational work is done at the centres of the Health Society and in the homes by
health visitors and inspectors, and during the year there was the usual wide
distribution of special leaflets on diarrhoea, flies in relation to disease, etc.
INFECTIOUS (COMMUNICABLE) DISEASES.
The number of deaths due to each of the diseases included in this group is
referred to when dealing specifically with the disease under the heading " Prevalence
of and Control over Infectious Diseases." It is interesting to note here,
however, that excluding influenza, which alone caused 17 deaths, and including
diarrhoea (25 deaths) the total number registered as due to them was 56. This
is a comparatively low figure, lower certainly than that of 1919 when it reached 69.
The diseases contributing most largely to the total were diphtheria, 5 ; whooping
cough, 21; scarlet fever, 2; enteric fever, 2 ; erysipelas, 1.
Phthisis and Other Tuberculous Diseases.
The total deaths due to the diseases dealt with under this heading, viz.,
phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or consumption of the lungs), tuberculous
meningitis, general tuberculosis, tabes mesenterica, and all conditions due to the
germ of consumption, numbered 93, a figure smaller by 28 than that for 1924.
Than the figure for 1919 it is smaller by 17, when the 116 returned for that year
was claimed to be the smallest number ever registered in the Borough.