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41
Summary.
Summarising the data, it is seen that
(a) During infancy there has been a large decrease in the
death-rate from diarrhoea; and a considerable decrease in
that from tuberculosis, convulsions, and whooping
cough; no notable decrease in regard to the following, all
of which are important factors in the death-rate: bronchitis
and pneumonia, premature birth, atrophy, debility
and marasmus; while there has also been no appreciable
decrease in other less important factors, e.g., injury at
birth, atelectasis, congenital malformation.
(b) During early childhood there has been a large decrease
in the death-rate from diarrhoea; considerable decrease
in that from tuberculosis, whooping cough, convulsions;
no notable decrease in the death-rate from bronchitis and
pneumonia, or in that from measles (except possibly in
the most recent years), or in that from diphtheria and
scarlet fever, which, however, form only a small portion
of the total deaths.
(c) During school life there has been no material decrease in
any of the main factors causing death ; but the total number
of deaths are relatively low by comparison with other
age periods.
Relative importance of factors in the death rate in infancy and
childhood.
Of the deaths occurring under 1 year of age during the years
1916-21, premature birth caused 22 per cent.; bronchitis and pneumonia
18; atrophy, debility and marasmus 15; diarrhoea 10; convulsions
6; congenital malformation 4; tuberculosis, whooping
cough and atelectasis, each about 2 per cent.; and injury at birth
1 per cent.
Similarly, of the deaths at ages between 1 and 5 years during
the same period, bronchitis and pneumonia caused 30 per cent.;
tuberculosis 13 per cent.; diphtheria 7 ; measles 6 ; whooping cough
5; and diarrhoea 3 per cent.
Of the deaths between the ages of 5 and 15 years during
the years 1916-21, tuberculosis caused 24 per cent.; bronchitis
and pneumonia 12; diphtheria 12; scarlet fever 3; and measles
2 per cent