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81
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
In 1934 the number of deaths due to conditions connected with or consequent
upon child-birth was 4, the Maternal mortality rate being 4.8 per 1,000 births.
In 1933 there were 10 deaths, the death-rate being 10.5 per 1,000 births.
With regard to the 1934 deaths it may be noted that in only one case death
occurred at home, the patient being a woman 23 years of age, and the cause of
death puerperal septicaemia. The three other deaths took place in hospitals and
were attributed to (1) septicaemia following miscarriage, (2) haemorrhage following
operation, and (3) abortion. The ages were 41, 29 and 25 respectively and all but
one 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 67. 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.
DIARRHOEAL DISEASES.
The total number of deaths registered as due to diarrhoea and enteritis
(inflammation of the bowels), was 17, equal to 0.18 per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst
infants, and in 1934 this was the case also, no fewer than 13 of the 17 being
children under 1 year of age.
In 1933, the deaths from diarrhœal diseases numbered 14, and of this number
12 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 12 deaths, and including diarrhoea
(17 deaths) the total number registered as due to them was 37. Of these deaths,
11 were caused by measles and 5 by whooping cough. No death was caused by
scarlet fever and only two by diphtheria. In 1933, 22 deaths were due to infectious
diseases excluding influenza, which caused 41 deaths. The figure in 1932 was 64.
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 identical with that of 1933.
The great bulk of the 68 deaths, viz., 62, was due to phthisis. The number in
1933 was 56.
Of the total number of deaths registered (1,171), the percentage due to
phthisis was 5.3, as against 4.6 in 1933. The age periods at which the deaths
occurred were: 15—25, 11 (18%); 24—45, 19 (32%); 45—65, 28 (44%); 65 and
over, 4 (6%).
The subject of phthisis is further discussed in connection with the notification
and prevention of tuberculosis.