THE PEOPLE’S HEALTH

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1930, Page 10

THE PEOPLE’S HEALTH

TUBERCULOSIS AND CANCER. REVIEW .BY DR. VALINTINE. The health conditions of the people of New Zealand during the past year are reviewed by the Director-General of Health, Dr. T. H. A. Valintine,. in his annual report .presented to the House of Representatives. The death rate for the .year was 8.75 per 1000 of the mean population, as against 8.49 in 1928. The infantile mortality rate was 34.10, a remarkable fall on the previous year’s figure of 3G.18. Reviewing the incidence of diseases, the report says the death rate of 4.56 per 10,000 of mean population from tuberculosis establishes a low record for this disease. The rate for. 1928 was 5.02. During .the year the public subscribed to the Christmas seal campaign, with tile result that £2500 will be available as -- V -

I ’ . * a nucleus for establishing permanent health camps for the treatment, of children specially liable to tuberculosis. The death rate from' cancer, 10.43, is the highest on record. It is a moot point whether this increase is real or only apparent and due to the increasing proportion of older-age groups in th'o population and to improved facilities ifl r diagnosis. The important fact is | that cancer is all too prevalent, and this should act as a stimulus to the campaign. I inaugurated by the New Zealand branch jof the British Empire Cancer Campaign, j This society has made an excellent | beginning and-shows promise of becomi ing a very real force. y ' ' '

• Of the notifiable infectious diseases scarlet fever showed a "fairly high incidence, but was of a mild* nature, with a case mortality rate per 1000 notifications of 5.57, in comparison with 8.98 for the previous year. The diphtheria death rate shows a rising tendency. However, the death rate of 0.65 per 10,000 mean population for diphtheria shows a remarkable fall in comparison with the rates of early years-