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21
Compared with the two previous years, there was in 1911
some excess of deaths at several age periods, but especially
under five and over 55. The number of deaths from
respiratory diseases (except phthisis) was the smallest
recorded; deaths from influenza and scarlet fever also were
fewer, but those from diarrhoea, tuberculosis, old age,
diabetes, and cancer, were much increased.
Comparing the years 1903-4 with 1910-11, it is seen that
in the latter period there were fewer deaths at each of the
nine age periods under 55, with two exceptions. At all the
periods over 55 there were more deaths in 1910-11 than in
1903-4. Owing to the fall in the birth-rate the population
under five years has probably slightly decreased, but not
enough to invalidate the conclusion that there has been a
repaarkable saving of life at ages under 55.
It is also seen that whereas in 1910-11 there were fewer
deaths from respiratory diseases than in 1903-4, there were
more from diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys,
viz., the diseases belonging specially to advanced ages.
Table 4 shows the number of deaths in 1911, from 57
principal causes at various ages. Seveial alterations have
been made in the table in order to include all the headings
of the Table 3 required by the Local Government Board.
Appendicitis caused 8 deaths iu 1911, compared with 3
in 1910.
15. The chart on the opposite page shows graphically
how the birth and death rates have varied in the past 20
years. The death-rate and infantile death-rate usually rise
and fall together, but the birth-rate follows quite a different