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Whereas 50 per cent. of the deaths of the males occurred among
those of under 65, the corresponding prcentage of the females was only
40. The increased proportion of deaths amongst those who have
attained the age of 65 is quite striking. In 1930 the percentage of deaths
for the country as a whole which occurred amongst those who had
reached this age was 44; in 1945 the prcentage was nearly 57. On the
face of it it would seem that the health of the community has markedly
improved in this short time. The figures though are only percentages,
so that a fall in the number of deaths at other ages would cause a rise
in those of the higher ages. This fall could be the result of a smaller
number of deaths taking place, not because of a lowering in the death
rate, but because of the smaller population at risk. In the same way the
higher proportion of deaths of the elderly might be and actually largely
is the result of there being more reaching these higher ages, again not
from any lowering of the death rate, but because of the survival of the
many born at a time of a high birth rate. This altered age distribution
of the population is shown by the following series of figures which give
for the populations of 1930 and of 1945 for the country as a whole the
proportions per thousand population in the various age groups 5-yearly
up to 25, then 10-yearly up to 85, those above this age being grouped
together : 76, 87, 79, 88, 90, 157, 137, 124, 93, 50, 17 and 2 (1930), the
other series 82, 74, 73, 68, 52, 122, 157, 141, 117, 79, 30 and 5 (1945).
This higher proportion of the elderly must for some years constitute
a problem until satisfactory arrangements can be made for dealing
with at least a high proportion of them. While the postponement of
death may be an achievement, it is a desirable aim only if the elderly
are in possession of their faculties. We are far in outlook from those
days not so very far back when those who had reached a certain age,
more especially the women seemed to feel that they had had all there
was to be had out of life and were merely waiting their end. To-day it
is no uncommon sight to see the quite elderly full of vigour and mental
and physical energy. It can only be if that standard can become general
that there can be any justification for endeavouring to increase the
average lifetime.
Fatalities from the infectious diseases again compared most favourably
with the figures for the country as a whole. This year there were
no deaths from typhoid fever, scarlet fever or whooping cough. The
fatality rate expressed as a rate per thousand population of measles was
under 0.01, influenza 0.10 and diphtheria 0.005, compared with national
rates of 0.00, 0.15 and 0.01. The rate for diarrhcea in those under 2
years of age of 2.2 per thousand live births was just half the national
rate.