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20
Compared with the last three years there was last year a
marked increase of deaths under 1 and over 35. There was
an increase also of deaths from apoplexy and diseases of the
heart and blood.vessels, and a great increase from respiratory
diseases (bronchitis and pneumonia).
In order to estimate, so far as possible, the effect of
war conditions on the death.rate, it is important to compare
the deaths during 1915 (1,841) with those in 1913 (1,580),
the last year before the war began. There was a total increase
of 261 deaths, viz. : 104 males and 157 females. Of these, 36
represent an increase in measles, 19 tuberculosis of the lungs,
27 congenital debility and premature birth, 29 heart disease,
46 bronchitis, 55 broncho.pneumonia, 26 pneumonia, 22
cirrhosis of the liver, and 30 violence. The only disease
showing a large diminution is diarrhoea (including enteritis).
Taking the diseases which mainly affect adults and comparing
males with females, it is found that the increase of deaths
from tuberculosis was nearly equal in the two sexes. The
increase of heart disease and violence was much greater in
males than females, whereas the increase in bronchitis,
pneumonia and cirrhosis of the liver was much greater in
females than in males.
It is interesting to find that while there was a total
diminution of deaths from nephritis of 10, the diminution (15)
was confined to males, there being an actual increase of deaths
in females.
If we assume that the chief cause affecting the health of
males has been the increase of overwork on munitions, and
in females anxiety and excitement causing increased indulgence
in drink, this might offer an explanation of the above figures