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6
From a perusal of the Vital Statistics, it will be seen that
the health of the residents has been satisfactorily maintained.
There is an increase in the Death Rate over that of last
year, the corrected Death Rate for this year being 11.03 per
1,000. The deaths from Zymotic Diseases exceed the number
in the previous year, many deaths being due to Measles, and
an increased number of deaths have occurred under one year
of age from Premature Birth, and Pneumonia, and these
circumstances, together with the growth of the inhabitants
largely account for the higher Death Rate.
The Infantile Mortality Rate, 85 per 1,000 of the
children born, cannot be deemed unsatisfactory, although
undoubtedly a much lower rate might be obtained if the
necessity to keep milk intended for infants cool and
scrupulously clean was more generally realised, and care
taken to exclude by properly covered vessels contact with
dust, flies, and foul air.
Ninety-five additional Births were registered compared
with last year, producing an increased Birth Rate, viz., 24.64
per 1,000. This is a satisfactory Rate compared with the
country in general.
Measles assumed an epidemic form in the early part of
the year, and 22 deaths resulted from this disease.
This disease was not made notifiable. On account of its
lengthy incubative period and infectivity it is a source of
administrative trouble to all concerned with the control and
management of Schools, especially Infants' Departments. No
doubt many parents do not realise the dangers arising from
careless treatment of this highly Infectious Disease.
The Notifiable Infectious Diseases (not including
Pulmonary and Tubercular Diseases), averaged 3.6 per week.
None of the diseases assumed epidemic form. There was a
larger number of Diphtheria cases than in the preceding year,
but the cases of Scarlet Fever were considerably less.