H.—3l

XXX

From other forms of tuberculosis the deaths in 1906 were 164 or 1-83 per 10,000 of population. Thus, a large addition has to be made to the deaths from phthisis to appreciate the full mischief done by tubercular disease. Deaths from all Tubercular Diseases. The mortality from all forms of tubercular disease, taken together, has been at the average rate of about 10 persons per 10,000 living for the last ten years. This rate is far lower than that which obtained in England during the year 1905, when the proportion was 16-32 per 10,000 living. A table is supplied showing the results for each of ten years in New Zealand. Besides the death-rate from tubercular diseases, it also shows the percentage of deaths by tubercle to those from all causes, which was from 8-63 to 11-57 per cent, for the decennial period 1897-1906. Decennial Table, 1897-1906, showing the Death-rate from Tubercle per 10,000 Living, and Percentage of Total Deaths. Number Percentage of 1897 ... .. ... 721,609 763' 1057 1157 1898 ... ... ... 736,260 769 10 44 10-62 1899 ... ... ... 749,984 795 1060 10-35 1900 ... ... ... 763,594 752 9-85 1044 1901 ... ... ...-777,968 775 9-96 10-15 1902 ... ... ... 797,793 802 10-05 958 1903 ... ... ... 820,217 769 9-38 9-02 1904 ... ... ... 845,022 799 9-46 9-88 1905 ... ... ... 870,000 678 7-79 8-41 1906 ... ... ... 895,594 720 8-04 8-63

Decennial Table, 1897-1906.—Deaths (Persons) from various Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand, specifying the Number under and over Five Years of Age.

Nine deaths from " lupus " recorded during the decennium have not been included in the above table. They were all deaths of adult persons (3 males and 6 females), excepting 1, aged 13 years. Two deaths of females, aged 13 and 69 respectively, were registered as from this disease in 1905. It will be seen that the term "tubercular diseases " includes "phthisis," "tabes mesenterica," "tubercular peritonitis," "tubercular meningitis," "acute hydrocephalus," with other forms of tuberculosis (scrofula, &c). Of these the mortality from phthisis forms by far the greatest part of the whole. Thus, in 1906, there were 556 deaths from phthisis out of a total of 720 deaths from all tubercular complaints. Of 556 deaths by phthisis, only 8 were of persons under 5 years of age. Examination of the next table, giving the full series of ages of persons who died from tubercular disease during the year 1906, shows that of 20 deaths from tabes mesenterica, with tubercular peritonitis, 8 were of children under 5 years. Also that, of 66 deaths from tubercular meningitis, with acute hydrocephalus, 35 were of persons under 5 years, and 23 from 5 to 20 years. Under "other forms of tuberculous" (excepting phthisis) the greater numbers of deaths are at ages under 30 years. The mortality from phthisis is heaviest at 20-30 years, being 184 deaths out of 556 of all ages, but large numbers are found in the columns as far as that for the advanced term of 65 to 70 years, at which the deaths of 1906 were 9, and 12 deaths from this cause are of persons of 70 years and upwards.

Tal Mesem Tubei Peritc bes tericn, :oular mitis. Tubercular Meningitis, Acute Hydrocephalus. Phthisis. Other t ( Tuber Sere J orms Total Deaths SSS?" , Tuberculosis. in <v "S O Year. gi - B O Cβ 1O -I u £ 1O OQ TO iO 1C , 1C >o o 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 35 87 43 20 30 26 22 17 15 8 9 12 19 20 22 19 28 18 19 12 33 37 32 24 30 36 39 44 37 35 32 38 40 55 31 30 35 44 38 31 7 10 10 13 10 5 9 5 4 8 589 587 583 564 586 612 561 593 492 548 13 11 12 9 14 8 11 12 8 10 45 37 56 47 52 66 64 66 65 68 H8 95 97 66 84 75 81 78 64 61 675 674 698 686 691 727 688 721 614 659 763 769 795 752 775 802 769 799 678 720