DOMINION'S HEALTH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19098, 20 August 1936, Page 4

DOMINION'S HEALTH

REASSURING STATISTICS LOWER DEATH RATE

‘ DECLINE OF DISEASE

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, tuis day. Reassuring facts regarding New Zealand’s health are contained in the annual report presented to Parliament by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser

During 1935 there was no epidemic of importance, while the death rate per 1000 of mean population was 8.22, a further decline on that of the previous year. " . ' j

The number of notifications of infectious disease constituted the second l°west figure since accurate records have been kept. Analysing the principal causes of death, the outstanding are as follows :

The report points out that heart disease continues to increase, though this tendency is more evident in the older age groups.

Cancer mortality reached its peak for males in the period 1911-15 and for females a few years later. Since then there lias been a downward tendency, with a slight upward trend for males during tjie past few years.

The downward. trend continues in tuberculosis. In fact, according to the report, it is necessary to go back to the early ’eighties, when the population was under 500,000, to find a lower number of deaths from this cause. There was a slight rise in the mortality of infants under 12 months, the rate being 32.26 per 1000 live births.

“A depressing feature of modern life,” states the report, “is the number •of motor accidents which occur causing death and suffering, decreased efficiency, and economic loss.” It mentions that in the last five years 864 persons have been killed through this cause, and declares that the country cannot afford to lose so many valuable lives. On the economic side, an increased burden is also being thrown on the hospital system for the provision of facilities and staff for the treatment of such cases. -

Number Per 10;CC0 Heart Disease 3458 23.27 ' Cancer 1655 11.15 Violence, 778 5.24 Chest Diseases • 712 4.79 Apoplexy 721 ■ : 4.85 Tuberculosis 576" 3.88