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5
AGES AT DEATH. .
From Table II.
It will be seen that 956 deaths occurred, under one year of
age, being 383 Per cent. of the deaths at all ages; under five
years the number was 1,278, being equal to 51.2 per cent. of
such deaths. Infants mortality has been considered by some
to be a criterion to the sanitary condition of a district, and
although this is so to an extent, yet as we well know amongst
a population such as ours, there are many causes other than
neglected sanitation which contributes largely to our death
roll, not the least of which is early improvident and unsuitable
marriages.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
It is with the diseases of a Zymotic character that we are
principally interested, as they are of a more or less preventable
nature; and it is the frequency or otherwise of these diseases,
that is to an extent taken as a standard as to the sanitary condition
of a district, especially when they are epidemic or
sporadic in one particular district. From the mortality table,
(Table II.) it will be seen that the whole of the deaths from
these diseases, was equal to 12.9 of the total number of deaths,
and equal to a death rate of 27 per 1000 per annum.
SCARLET FEVER.
The mortality from Scarlet Fever has been very low, seeing
that we had 403 cases notified to us, out of which number
only 28 deaths took place. I may say the disease was scattered
all over the Hamlet, and was of a mild type. It was not found
necessary to close any of the Public Schools in the District.
DIPHTHERIA.
This disease has been during the past few years on the
increase, especially since 1887. We have had notified to us 138
cases during the last 12 months, from the various Medical men
of the district. On examining the premises where these diseases
were* reported to have occurred, in many of them sanitary defects
were found, and in a large number the same cistern was used
for drinking purposes as that supplying the closet, and which
(cisterns) had not been in some cases, cleansed tor something
like two vears. The number of deaths from this disease was 44,
being equal to a death rate of .3 per 1000 per annum. Now
that cases of this disease are admitted into the Asylum Board
Hospitals, together with a compulsory notification of the same,
it is hoped that the constant increase that has taken place of
late years, may be checked.