H.—3l

16

enteritis for the year ending 31st March, and of these, only 4 occurred during the last summer. No doubt the summer, not being so dry as the two previous summers, was not so favourable to a high infantile mortality. Some credit must also be given to the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children. The work of this society is largely increasing. There are now two fully qualified Plunket Nurses employed in Christchurch, and about 200 infants have been attended by them during the year. In addition to the personal visits paid within the radius of two miles from the Post-office, a large number of cases are dealt with outside this area and in the country districts, by supplying written advice and pamphlets, and by advice given to those who apply at the office of the society. A branch of this society has been recently formed in Timaru. CAUSES OF DEATH. The Registrar-General reports as follows on the causes of death for the year : — The classification of causes of death in 1908 was made for the first time in New Zealand according to the Bertillon Index of Diseases. This system has been adopted by the Commonwealth of Australia and the principal European and American countries. It is highly desirable for comparative purposes that uniformity of statistical method should obtain when possible. The new system differs materially 7 from that hitherto in use, and comparisons of certain causes of mortality in 1908 and previous years are impossible owing to changes in the classification of minor diseases. This applies more particularly to diseases of the digestive, nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems. There are, however, certain principal causes of deaths which are unaffected and retain their comparative value, such as cancer, tubercular diseases, typhoid fever, whooping-cough, measles, influenza, scarlet fever, diabetes, appendicitis, liver and puerperal diseases, suicide, and old age. Although it is not possible to exhibit a classified comparison with previous years on this occasion, a table is given of some of the principal causes of death during the past five years.

For purposes of comparison with previous years it is necessary to confine attention to certain special causes of death. These are exhibited for 1908 and the four previous years in numbers, and also in proportion to each 10,000 of the mean population. Diseases of the circulatory system, though numerous, are avoided, owing to the fact that in former years it has been the practice, when the cause of death was certified as heart disease with another possibly fatal complaint the latter has been preferred. Under the new system the reverse is the case. The number of deaths occurring from bronchitis is similarly affected. Hydatids, formerly grouped under the heading " Parasitic," are now assigned to the location of the disease. These and many other changes in the classification might be borne in mind when comparisons with Jormer years are sought. Typhoid Feveb. Deaths from this cause numbered 90 in 1908, against 53 in the previous year, the average for five years being 62. Measles. The outbreak of this complaint in 1907, causing 101 deaths, was not recurrent in 1908 when only 19 deaths were recorded.

Number of leaths. Propofl )ion of 10 ),000 of lean Popi ilation. Cause. 1905. 1906. I 1904. j 1907. 1908. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. typhoid fever Heasles . . Scarlet fever Vhooping-cough nfluenza ruberculosis of the lungs . . )ther forms of .tuberculosis 73 10 13 35 113 598 201 571 90 102 114 45 8 10 3 70 496 182 566 79 119 116 48 12 18 26 132 556 164 623 104 138 106 53 101 25 307 223 612 244 674 87 130 104 90 19 60 42 64 607 232 657 100 136 96 0-86 0-12 0-15 0-41 1-34 7-08 2-38 6-76 1-06 1-21 1-35 0-52 0-09 0-11 0-03 0-80 5-70 2-10 6-51 0-91 1-37 ; 1-33 ! 0-54 0-13 0-20 0-29 1-47 6-21 1-83 6-96 1-16 j 1-54 I 1-18 0-58 MO 0-27 3-34 2-43 6-66 2-65 7-33 0-95 1-41 113 0-95 0-20 0-63 0-44 0-68 6-42 2-45 6-95 1-06 1-44 1-02 Jancer Diabetes Simple meningitis Jonvulsions of children under 5 years of age Apoplexy 3 neumonia Gastritis and enteritis Diarrhoeal diseases Cirrhosis of liver Appendicitis disease and acute nephritis Violence, suicide .. ,, accident )ther causes 292 406 383 193 53 299 425 379 ' 128 40 53 242 272 444 335 97 44 69 241 330 572 518 314 42 86 268 341 453 478 198 52 81 263 3-46 4-80 4-53 2-28 0-63 3-44 4-89 4-36 1-47 0-46 0-61 2-79 3-04 4-96 3-74 1-08 0-49 0-77 2-69 3-59 6-22 5-64 3-42 0-46 0-93 2-92 3-61 4-80 5-06 2-20 0-55 0-86 2-78 200 2-37 100 598 3,942 89 525 4,187 83 575 4,252 102 611 4,663 103 570 4,401 1-18 | 7-08 | 1-02 6-03 0-93 6-42 111 6-65 1-09 6-03 Totals 8,087 8,061 8,339 10,066 9,043 95-70 92-66 93-11 109-52 95-69