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12
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
In 1940 the number of deaths due to conditions connected with or consequent
upon child-birth was 1, the maternal mortality rate being 1.98 per 1,000 births.
The death occurred at home, the age of the mother being 32 years. The child
survived. As is usual in these cases a careful investigation into the circumstances
of the death was made and a report submitted to the Ministry of Health. In 1939
there was 1 death, the death-rate being 1.22 per 1,000 births.
DEATHS IN RELATION TO DISEASE.
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
diarrhoea and enteritis (inflammation of the bowels), was 4, giving a rate of 0.06
per 1,000 of the population.
As a general rule, the majority of deaths from this cause occur amongst infants,
and in 1940 this was the case also, all being children under one year of age.
In 1939, the number of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases was 10. All were babies.
Infectious (Communicable) Diseases.—Excluding influenza, which caused
11 deaths, and including diarrhoea, etc. (4 deaths) the total number registered as due
to infectious diseases was 11. Of these deaths, 1 was caused by diphtheria, 1 by
measles, and 5 by cerebro-spinal fever. In 1939,13 deaths were caused by infectious
diseases, excluding influenza which caused 14 deaths.
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 42, 62
being recorded in 1939.
The great bulk of the 42 deaths, viz., 34, giving a death-rate of 0.67 per 1,000
of the population, was due to phthisis. The number in 1939 was 57, with a death-rate
of 0.69.
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 171. This is higher by 77 than the
figure (94) for 1939.
The death-rate was 2.75 per thousand. In 1939 the rate was 1.14.
The number of deaths certified to be due to bronchitis was 88. Of this number
70 were amongst persons aged 65 and upwards, and 17 amongst those of the group
45-65.
The deaths traceable to pneumonia numbered 65 and, as in the case of bronchitis,
the later age-groups contributed the greatest numbers. Four were infants of under
one year of age.
Cancer or Malignant Disease.—The number of deaths due to cancer was
155 and the death-rate 2.49 per 1,000 of the population. The figures for 1939 were
139 and 1.69 per 1,000 respectively.
Information with regard to the age at which death occurred and the situation
of the disease is given in Tables 2 and 3.