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14
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
In 1937 the number of deaths due to conditions connected with or consequent
upon child-birth was 4, the maternal mortality rate being 4.46 per 1,000 births.
In 1936 there were 2 deaths, the death-rate being 2.2 per 1,000 births.
With regard to the 1937 deaths it may be noted that throe occurred in hospital
and one in a nursing home, the ages of the women, two of whom were unmarried,
being respectively 27, 27, 28, and 40.
DEATHS IN RELATION TO DISEASE.
A list of the causes of deaths, with the ages at which they occurred, will be
found in Table 13 on page 18. 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.
Diarrhceal Diseases.—The total number of deaths registered as due to
diarrhœa and enteritis (inflammation of the bowels), was 12, giving a rate of 0.13
per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst infants,
and in 1937 this was the case also, no fewer than 9 of the 12 being children under
one year of age.
In 1936, the number of deaths from diarrhceal diseases was abnormally high,
25 being recorded. Of these, 18 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 and other
Diseases." It is interesting to note here, however, that excluding influenza, which
caused 44 deaths, and including diarrhœa, etc. (12 deaths) the total number registered
as due to them was 23. Of these deaths, 2 were caused by typhoid fever, and 3 by
diphtheria. Two deaths were attributed to encephalitis lethargica, one to cerebrospinal
fever, and one to whooping cough. There was no death from measles.
In 1936, 49 deaths were due to infectious diseases, excluding influenza which caused
14 deaths. The figure in 1935 was 26.
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 54, 69 being
recorded in 1936.
The great bulk of the 54 deaths, viz., 51, was due to phthisis. The number in
1936 was 62.
Of the total number of deaths registered (1,202), the percentage due to phthisis
was 4.5, as against 5.2 in 1936. The age periods at which the deaths occurred were:
1—5, 1 (2%); 5—15, nil; 15—25, 6 (11%) ; 25-^5, 21 (40%); 45—65, 22 (40 %);
65 and over, 4 (8%).
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 139. This is higher by 25 than
the figure (114) for 1936.
The death-rate was 1.52 per thousand. In 1936 the rate was 1.23.
The number of deaths certified to be due to bronchitis was 44. Of this number
27 were amongst persons aged 65 and upwards, and 12 amongst those of the group
45—65. Two were infants of under one year of age.
The deaths traceable to pneumonia numbered 89 and, as in the case of bronchitis,
the later age-groups contributed the greatest numbers.