VITAL STATISTICS.

Southland Times, Issue 16687, 16 March 1911, Page 4

VITAL STATISTICS.

The statistics that appear monthly in the “Gazette” in connection with births and deaths are invariably interesting and instructive. From the figures in last Thursday’s “Gazette” Auckland, during the year 1910, had the highest proportion of births, and also the highest proportion of deaths in comparison with the other cities of the Dominion. In Auckland the proportion of births to each 1000 of population was 27.75 ; Wellington, 24.13 ; Christchurch, 27.10 ; and Dunedin, 27.22. The death proportions were ; Auckland, 11.88 ; Wellington, 9.31 ; Christchurch, 10.54 ; and Dunedin, 10.99. In comparison with previous years, the birth rate per thousand of population shows a decline in every case, and it is instructive to note that, as between 1906 and 1910, the most substantial decline has taken place within the last twelve months. The position is shown clearly in the following table ; 1906. 1909. 1910. Auckland 29.96 29.73 27.75 Wellington .... 27.85 26.62 24.13 Christchurch 28.19 28.55 27.10 Dunedin 28.96 28.34 27.22 The death rate has fluctuated during the same period of years, and in 1910 was slightly lower than in 1906, but, with the exception of Wellington, was higher than in 1909. The necessity for extending the operations of such organisations as the Society for the Health of Women and Children is shown by the increased rate of infantile mortality. As compared with last year, the deaths of children under one year of age to every 100 births were as follows : 1909. 1910. Auckland 6.18 7.90 Wellington 8.42 5.45 Christchurch 6,28 6.94 Dunedin 4.86 7.91 It is gratifying to note that Invercargill is conspicuous as the town showing the second lowest death rate during the year 1910, the proportion to the thousand of population being

only 7.43, while Petono is 7.16. Timaru comes next with 7.78 ; Palmerston North, 7.99 ; Lyttelton, 8.05 ; Wanganui, 9.28 : Blenheim, 9.55 ; and Masterton, 9.78. Gisborne, with a death rate of 14.80, occupies the unenviable position at the top of the list for the Dominion, while New Plymouth is also 14.29. Coming to the causes of death, figures are given for the four chief cities only, and cancer heads the list as the cause of no less than 252 deaths, 74 of which were due to cancer of the stomach and liver. Phthisis and tuberculosis were responsible for 235 deaths, while cerebral hemorrhage accounted for 128. Other causes of death were diarrhoea and enteritis IS9 (of whom 167 were children under two years of age), pneumonia 90, bronchitis 102, Bright o disease 61, meningitis 44, diabetes 42, •whooping cough 32, and premature birth 130. Of the deaths due to violence. the most common method of suicide was by firearms, which were used in seven cases, while poison and cutting instruments were used in six cases each. Among the accidents, there were 17 cases of drowning and 13 cases of death from burns and scalds, while fractures accounted for 12 lives.