CAUSES OF DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 8

CAUSES OF DEATH

FIGURES FOR LAST YEAR-

PREVALENCE OF INFLUENZA,

FIFTY MORE CANCER CASES. Interesting returns of (lip causes of deaths in New Zealand in 1023 are furnished by tlio Government Statistician. Of the principal epidemic diseases, the one with tl'io most, satisfactory record j n recent, years is typhoid fever. Although si ill prevalent in sporadic outbreaks among tho Maoria, tins disease now causes very few deaths of Europeans. An occasional small outbreak is still experienced, however, and fo the increase in the number of deaths from typhoid fever from 11 in 1927 to lb in 1028 presents no alarming features. Of tho other principal epidemic diseases—namely, measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough, diphtheria, ami influenza—two (scarlet fever and influenza) caused in 1923 greater havoc than in their normal wont. 'lho former disease came into prominence in 1027. The total number of deaths from scarlet fever recorded in 1923 is ilic highest since 1903, although the death-rate (0.40 per 10.000 of mean population) was exceeded in 1916, when it stood at 0.46.

Influenza and Tuberculosis. Dealing with influenza the ment Statistician remarks that " 1 his disease is still very prevalent, and ;< definite rise in lho death-rate is encountered every now and again. One such peak was experienced during 1923, and still liejut: fdt in the early part of ihe current Year. The rate (1.74 per 10.000) is, however, far from phenomenal, and is lower than that experienced in the epidemic vear of 1926 (2.13). Of the total of 242 deaths recorded as due to influenza in 1923, 130 were of males and 112 of females." Measles and whooping couch show a decline; diphtheria, a slight increase.

'l'lic position of tuberculosis is <lcs«"ribc<l as not <lll itc .satisfactory. In 192b a slight. rise in the death-rate "as experienced . in 1927 tlierc was a slight decline ; in 1928 tlicrc was an appreciable rise in the death-rate from pulmonary tuberculosis to 4.09 per 10.000, which was taken to be "lather a, reflection of previously operating factors than an indication of an actual increase in the mortality from the disease. The position for other forms of tuberculosis 's more satisfactory lor Iho veal* under review, as a decline in the. rate from 0.98 in 1927 to 0.93 is recorded here. The chief group under this heading from a numerical aspect is tuberculosis meningitis, this disease accounting for no fewer than 58 of the total of 100 deaths from other forms of tuberculosis." Slight Increase in Cancer,

"No improvement is observed for 1923 in the calicer problem," states the Statistician. "Although a slight decrease occurred in the death-rate for 1927, the upward trend operating throughout the history of the disease was advanced another step in tin. succeeding year. 'lhc number of deaths from cancer registered in 1928 was 1374, an increase of 50 as compared with the previous year, while tliq death-rates were 9.63 in 1927 and 9.38 in 1923.

Cancer is principally confined to persons of 40 years ot age and upwards, and during 1928 all person;: over the age of 40 years whose deaths were, registered, one in every seven of males and one in every six of females died from cancer. Deaths front diabetes showed a decrease. .More women than men took their own lives in 1928. J lie total number of suicides during 1920 was 202, an increase of three over 1927. The suicidal death-rato was 1.45 per 10,000 of mean population. The number of females who committed suicide in 1928 (48) was abnormally laige, being greater than that recorded for very manv years, and an increase of 20 over tha previous year.

Deaths recorded in 1928 as due to pneumonia or broncho-pneumonia were 652 iri number, as compared with 520 in 1927, and the rale rose, from 3.79 per 10,000 to 4.68. This increase is probably, fo some extent at least, associated with the influenza epidemic of 1928. Deaths from bronchitis, on the other hand, register an appreciable, fall. Deaths from accidents and diseases of the puerpera. state remained at. practically the. same level in 1923 as in ]927, the numbers being 137 in 1927 and 134 in 1928.

.Homicidal deaths in 1928 numbered 10 as compared with 22 for the previous year.