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31
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
In 1933 the number of deaths due to conditions connected with or consequent
upon child-birth was 10, the Maternal mortality rate being 10.5 per 1,000 births.
These are the highest figures for a number of years, those for 1932, for example,
being as follows: Deaths 4 and death-rate 3.8 per 1,000 births. The main facts
with regard to the 1933 deaths are: In two cases death was due to puerperal
septicaemia, the ages being 31 and 43, one of these instances following the birth of
twins. Two, ages 27 and 29, died of septic abortion. One death was found to
be due to puerperal toxaemia and another to anaemia and operative shock. Both
these women were 30 years of age. A seventh case was that of a woman of 28
years who died of chronic endocarditis and myocarditis, pregnancy being terminated
by abdominal hysterectomy. The eighth death was of a woman 37 years of
age, and was due to cardiac failure, the child being still-born. 1 he remaining
two deaths were attributed to haemorrhage, one following miscarriage. The ages
were 34 and 20. All but one of these women were married.
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 65. This Table
also shows the distribution of deaths according to causes in the various registration
sub-districts.
The following notes w ith regard to certain of the causes which contributed
most largely to the death rate, may be of interest.
DIARRHOEAL DISEASES.
The total number of deaths registered as due to diarrhoea and enteritis
(inflammation of the bowels), was 14, equal to 0.14 per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst
infants', and in 1933 this was the case also, no fewer than 12 of the 14 being
children under 1 year of age.
In 1932, the deaths from diarrhœal diseases numbered 29, and of this number
24 were babies.
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 caused 41 deaths, and including diarrhoea
(14 deaths) the total number registered as due to them was 22. Of these deaths,
6 were caused by whooping cough. No death was caused by scarlet fever and
only one by diphtheria. In 1932, 64 deaths were due to infectious diseases excluding
influenza, which caused 35 deaths. The figure in 1931 was 31.
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 68, a figure lower by 7 than that for 1932.
The great bulk of the 68 deaths, viz., 56, was due to phthisis. The number in
1932 was 67.
Of the total number of deaths registered (1,224), the percentage due to
phthisis was 4.6, as against 6.0 in 1932. The age periods at which the deaths
occurred were: 15—25, 4(7%); 25—45, 24 (43%); 45—65, 24 (43%); 65 and
over, 4 (7%).
The subject of phthisis is further discussed in connection with the notification
and prevention of tuberculosis.