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Mortality of Persons over the Age of 65. - Five hundred
and one or 65.06 per cent of the total deaths during the year
occurred in persons over the age of 65. Of these, 154 died
between the ages of 80 and 90, while a further 26 were over the
latter age (six males, the eldest being 101, and 20 females, the
eldest being 97).
Diseases of the heart and circulation formed the largest
group appearing in the list of causes of death of elderly persons.
This is in keeping with the findings of recent years.
Zymotic Mortality.—There were no deaths in this category
during the year. It is particularly pleasing to be able to record
that there were no deaths in children under two years of age from
diarrhoea. This cause of death in young children has always been
regarded as especially unfortunate, indicating as it does the
existence of a preventable cause of infection in a highly susceptible
age group. It would be extremely foolish to assume that this
cause has been eliminated. We know very well that it still exists,
and that preventive measures must be continued without abatement.
It is also satisfactory to know that measles, whooping
cough and diphtheria did not appear among the causes of death
in early childhood. Here again we must continue our efforts with
vigour until the occurrence of any of these diseases as a cause
of death in young children is considered a rare event. When one
bears in mind the changing outlook towards zymotic diseases and
the advances which have been made within the past decade to
reduce their powers to cripple and to kill, there is no reason to
believe that this goal should remain beyond our reach.