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Statistical Evidence of Sanitary Circumstances.
The rates of mortality contained in the foregoing tables—
viz: The total death rate, infant mortality and the zymotic death
rate furnish the most reliable statistical evidence of health
conditions available for small populations, and their relative value
for this purpose is in the order given.
The Annual Death Rate.
The gross death rate of 12.9 for the year is 2.6 per 1,000
more than for last year.
The increase is mainly due to deaths from Diarrhoea, Cancer
and Respiratory diseases. 1906. 1905.
Diarrhæal diseases 39 22
Cancer 20 7
Respiratory diseases 29 11
The increase occurred at all ages, except ages 15 to 25 and
over 65, which are approximately the same as for last year.
The value of the death rate as a trustworthy test of health
conditions, depends largely upon the accuracy of the estimation of
the population, which I venture to say is approximately correct.
The death rate is a low one for a working-class population, and it
should be so in a district like ours in which the population is
constantly increasing at an abnormal rate from the immigration of
young adults, whose death rate is low.
Moreover the birth rate has been high for many years past,
and this implies a population containing an undue proportion of
children from the age of five, and young adults; that is, of
persons at age periods for which a low rate of morbidity prevails.