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59
Puerperal Fever was the registered cause of 8 deaths*
(against 6, 10 and 5 in the preceding three years respectively),
six of them in the Town sub-district. Seven of the deaths
were of women between twenty-five and thirty-five, and one
between thirty-five and forty-five. In addition to these 8
deaths, other 8 (six of them in the Town sub-district), were
registered as having occurred in "childbirth," against 7, 14
and 10 in the preceding three years respectively. Puerperal
fever is a communicable disease depending upon "blood
poisoning," whereas other causes of death connected with
childbirth, are, so to say, accidental e.g., hemorrhage ("flooding").
The deaths registered as having been caused by diseases and
accidents associated with parturition (16), were equal to about
4.3 per 1,000 live births, against 3.5, 6.2 and 4.0 per 1,000 in
the preceding three years respectively.
Class II.—Parasitic Diseases
Include Thrush and Other Vegetable Parasitic Diseases; and
Worms, Hydatids, and Other Animal Parasitic Diseases.
There were two deaths from Thrush under one year of age.
Class III.—Dietetic Diseases
Were the causes of 27 deaths, all but two of them in the Town
sub-district. To Want of Breast Milk—Starvation, seven
deaths were classified; to Scurvy, none. Delirium Tremens
was the cause of 7 deaths, against 6, 6 and 4 in the preceding
three years respectively; Chronic Alcoholism of 13 deaths,
against 7, 8 and 7. Of these 20 deaths all save two were in the
Town sub-district. It is scarcely necessary, perhaps, to remark
that, if all the deaths due, directly or indirectly, to the immoderate
use of intoxicating liquors, could be ascertained,
"Alcoholism" would occupy a more prominent position
in the " Bills of Mortality": but many deaths due to the
misuse of alcohol get certified, and therefore are classified,
* Only three cases of puerperal fever were notified