View report page

27
Causes of Death (all ages).
The causes of the 528 deaths of residents registered in the
district during the year are given in Table IV. The infant deaths
are included, but are also dealt with separately and in greater
detail in Table V. The work entailed in the preparation of these
Local Government Board tables is probably much greater than the
interest, if any, taken in them locally, and therefore it may be
well to call attention to some of the more important facts they
contain, The infant deaths and the fatal cases of zymotic diseases
are referred to more particularly later on as they have a direct
bearing on the public health.
Tuberculous Diseases.
44 deaths during the year were directly caused by tuberculous
disease of all kinds, a number equal to 8.3 per cent, of the total
deaths. This percentage is almost the same as it was last year
(8 8), but the actual number of deaths from tuberculosis is three more.
Of the 44 deaths, 36 were due to tuberculosis of the lungs,
giving a proportion of deaths from consumption to total deaths
of 6.8 per cent. The similar percentage in 1905, was 6.3, in 1906,
6.0, and in 1907, 6.9. It should be noted that these do not include
several deaths of residents from tuberculosis registered outside
the district.
Respiratory Diseases.
Excluding consumption, 85 deaths at all ages were caused by
other diseases of the respiratory organs, compared with 86 from
similar causes in 1907. These deaths are equal to 16.0 per cent,
of all deaths of residents registered. The corresponding percentage
last year was 18.6.
Cancer.
30 death were caused by malignant disease or cancer in one
or other of its various forms. This number is equal to 5.6 per
cent, of the total deaths. The persons who died from cancer were
all aged over 25, and more than half were over 65. During the
two previous years the number of deaths registered as being caused
by cancer were in 1906, 43 (8.2 per cent.), and in 1907, 38 (also
8.2 per cent).