H—3l

XIX

Causes of Death at Four Centres, including Suburbs. While treating of the death-rates at the chief cities and surroundings, it is desirable to refer to the causes of mortality, which is done in the remarks that follow. The deaths for the whole colony, classified according to their cause, are treated of at length a little further on. Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). The mortality from these diseases was lower at three of the four centres in 1906 than in the previous year. The total deaths in this class were 115 for 1905 and 133 for 1906. Deaths from Febrile and Zymotio Diseases. 1905. 1906. Auckland and suburbs ... ... ... ... ... 45 42 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... ... 34 22 Christchurch „ ... ... ... ... ... 27 23 Dunedin „ ... ... ... ... ... 9 46 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 115 133 Of the above, influenza caused most deaths in 1906 at the four centres taken together, the total number being 33 ; diarrhceal diseases came next, with 29 deaths ; typhoid fever, 14 ; whoop-ing-cough, 12 ; diphtheria, 13 ; scarlet fever, 4 ; measles, 10; and other zymotic complaints, 19. Comparison of the deaths for each city, including suburbs, shows, — „ .. . n - Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. aa., diseases. lgQg lgQ6 _ lgos 190g _ lgog _ 190g lgos lg()6 Diarrhceal diseases ... 21 16 12 2 9 8 2 3 Influenza ... ... 3 11 3 6 4 9 3 7 Typhoid fever ... 7 5 2 ... 1 ... ... 5 Measles ... ... ... 10 Scarlet fever ... 2 2 3 1 ... 1 Diphtheria ... ... 3 2 4 5 ... 2 14 Whooping-cough ... 1 ... 1 12 Other zymotic diseases 9 6 10 4 12 3 2 5 Parasitic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). Hydatids were fatal at Dunedin (1 death). Dietetic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). These numbered 25, 6 being due to want of breast-milk, scurvy, or malnutrition, 6 to alcoholism, and 3 to delirium tremens. Constitutional Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). The deaths at the four towns numbered 511 in 1906. The first in importance of these diseases, and of all causes of death, is tubercle. The figures foi 1905 and 1906 show 211 and 232 deaths for each year respectively. Phthisis and other Taberoular Diseases. Other Other Phthisis. Tubercular Phthisis. Tuberoular Diseases. Diseases. Auckland and suburbs ... ... 37 12 40 12 Wellington „ ... ... 28 14 49 11 Christchurch „ ... ... 44 10 28 14 Dunedin „ ... ... 47 19 59 19 156 55 176 56 The mortality from tubercular diseases for 1906 is 9-3 per cent, of the total deaths at the four boroughs and their suburbs from all causes. Deaths from cancer rose at the chief towns from 191 in 1905 to 217 in 1906. The latter number is 9 per cent, of deaths for the year from all causes. The number of deaths from cancer at the four chief towns and their suburbs for each of the last five years was as under : — 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Auckland and suburbs... ... 44 37 45 35 49 Wellington „ ... ... 37 47 44 47 53 Christchurch „ ... ... 25 33 38 49 60 Dunedin , 59 62 57 60 55 Totals ... ... 165 179 184 191 217 Diabetes shows 36 deaths in 1906, against 32 in 1905.