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31
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
In 1935 the number of deaths due to conditions connected with or consequent
upon child-birth was 2, the Maternal mortality rate being 2.2 per 1,000 births.
In 1934 there were 4 deaths, the death-rate being 4.8 per 1,000 births.
With regard to the 1935 deaths it may be noted that both occurred in hospital,
one of the women being 29 and the other 35. In each case death was stated to be
due to puerperal sepsis.
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 78. 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 18, equal to 0.19 per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst
infants, and in 1935 this was the case also, no fewer than 17 of the 18 being
children under 1 year of age.
In 1934, the deaths from diarrhoeal diseases numbered 17, and of this number
13 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 9 deaths, and including diarrhoea
(18 deaths) the total number registered as due to them was 26. Of these deaths,
2 were caused by paratyphoid fever and 4 by whooping cough. No death was
caused by scarlet fever or by measles, and only two by diphtheria. In 1934, 37
deaths were due to infectious diseases excluding influenza, which caused 12 deaths.
The figure in 1933 was 22.
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 72, 68 being recorded in 1934.
The great bulk of the 72 deaths, viz., 63, was due to phthisis. The number in
1934 was 62.
Of the total number of deaths registered (1,094), the percentage due to
phthisis was 5.8, as against 5.3 in 1934. The age periods at which the deaths
occurred were: 15—25, 9 (14%); 25—45, 22 (35%); 45—65, 22 (35%); 65 and
over, 10 (16%).
The subject of phthisis is further discussed in connection with the notification
and prevention of tuberculosis.
RESPIRATORY DISEASES.
The number of deaths due to bronchitis, pneumonia, and other diseases of the
organs of respiration was 72. This is lower by 47 than the figure (119) for 1934.