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There were 4 deaths of people over 70 years of age, and 2 at
84.
The deaths of Infants under one year of age, 14 in number,
represents a proportion of 110 per thousand births, and means that
out of every 9 children born one dies without reaching the anniversary
of its birth.
Figures for last 4 years re Infant Mortality in District.
1805 150.5 per 1,000 births.
1896 163.0 „ „ „
1897 125.0 „ „ „
1898 110.0 „ „ „
The total of deaths includes 2 occurring in non-residents who
had only come into the district on a short visit. In both of these
cases inquests were held and the cause of death returned as Heart
Disease.
Of the 47 deaths 4 were due to Affections of the Pulmonary
Organs, 2 to Typhoid Fever, 7 to Measles, 10 to Diarrhœa, all in
children under 18 months; 1 to Consumption, 2 to Heart Disease.
There were 2 deaths attributable to Tuberculosis, and 2 to Cancer.
During the year 127 births were registered, of which number
59 were boys and 68 girls. This is a considerable increase from
last year, when the number stood at 88:- The birth-rate works
out at 25.2 per 1000. Twenty-four cases of Infectious Sickness
were notified during the year:-viz., 4 of Scarlet Fever, 9 of
Diphtheria, 8 of Typhoid Fever, and 3 of Erysipelas. Of these two
ended fatally (from Typhoid). This gives a mortality from
Zymotic Diseases of .4 per 1000 living.
In all cases the premises were inspected and strict measures
taken to isolate patients and prevent spreading of the disease.
The premises were carefully disinfected when recovery had taken
place.
The occurrence of 8 cases of Typhoid Fever in one small
tenement house brought the Sanitary Officers face to face with a
very serious danger. I thought it my duty to request the Clerk
to call a Special Meeting of the whole Council, at which I had the
honour of submitting a report on the subject.
Thanks to the special and liberal measures which were at once
adopted by the Council to protect the Public Health, the disease
was confined to the one house, which was practically converted
into an Isolation Hospital.
I wish to take this opportunity of recording my sincere thanks
to the Council for the ready and courteous way in which my suggestions
were met and carried through, and every assistance
rendered to the Health Officers in dealing with what was really a
very serious crisis.