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2
INFANT MORTALITY.
The infant mortality reaches 128.4 as compared with
117.3 for last year and 113.5 for 1900. This rise is to be
accounted for chiefly by the large number of deaths due to
Premature Birth (8). There were only 3 due to Diarrhœa.
Two of these infants died from suffocation caused by overlaying.
This at any rate is a preventible cause, and it is
shameful that so many hundreds of children are killed every
year in this country from this cause alone, when a little foresight
would prevent this sacrifice. Whooping cough is
responsible for 3 deaths of children under one year of age.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
There were 12 deaths caused by the principal zymotic
diseases, equivalent to a zymotic death-rate of 1.6 per 1000
living. This is somewhat lower than that of last year.
Deaths specified as to causes:—
Whooping Cough 3
Diphtheria 5
Diarrhoea 3
Enteritis 1
Erysipelas 1
Phthisis (and other Tubercular Diseases) 7
Cancer 2
Bronchitis 3
Pneumonia 5
Heart Diseases 6
Accidents 3
General 25
The deaths from Phthisis, or Consumption, exactly coincide
with those of last year. In connection with this disease I beg
to repeat the remarks made in my report for 1901, viz., that
very much can be done towards stamping out the disease by
spreading the knowledge of its infectious nature as extensively
as possible amongst the people. The infection lies almost
entirely in the expectoration of the patient, which gives off
the germs of the disease if allowed to become dry. Patients
suffering from the disease should be most careful not to expectorate
indiscriminately; this should always be done into a
proper cup or flask, the bottom of which is covered by a disinfectant.
On occasions when this cannot be used the sputum
should be received in a square of rag or sanitary handkerchief
which can be burned after use. The rooms used by consumptives
should be frequently cleansed and disinfected, and