H.—3l.

Death of Mothers Death of Mothers Year of every 1,000 , Year. of every 1,000 Confinements. ' Confinements. 1899 .. .. •• 4-57 1904 .. .. •• •• 4-66 1900 .. .. •• 3-84 1905 .. .. .. •■ 4-22 1901 .. 4-39 1906 .. .. •• •■ 3-91 1902 5-33 1907 ' •• 4-62 1903 5-86 1908 4-04 Violence. The deaths from external violence, apart from suicide, numbered 570 in 1908—males 448, females 122. The rate per 10,000 living was 7-08 in 1904, 6-03 in 1905, 6-42 in 1906, 6-65 in 1907, and 6-03 in 1908. Drowning caused 23 per cent, of the total, and 25 per cent, of the male deaths by accident. The various forms of accidental deaths in 1908 are shown in the following table :-- Accidental Deaths, 1908. Cause of Death. Males- Females. Total. Fractures .. .. •• •• ..35 14 49 Shooting 9 1 10 Other accidental injuries.. .. .. • • 223 36 259 Burns, scalds 22 31 53 Insolation .. .. • ■ ■ • .. 4 1 Electric shock . . .. .. • • •■ 1 • • £ Accidental drowning .. .. .. .. 113 19 132 Inanition .. .. • • • • .. 2 .. A Inhalation of noxious gases .. .. ' .. 4 3 7 ■ Other accidental poisoning .. .. .. 15 4 19 Other external violence .. .. .. .. 20 13 33 Total deaths 448 122 570 Suicide. The suicidal deaths in 1908 were 103—males 89 and females 14. The rate per 10,000 living was 1-09 in 1908, against an average of 1-07 for the past' five years. The means most frequently resorted to by males was shooting, and by females, poison and hanging. The following table shows the means of self-destruction employed : — Suicides, 1908. Mode of Death. Males. Females. Total. Poison 1* 18 Hanging or strangulation .. .. .. .. 18 4 22 Drowning .. . • • • • • .. 9 2 11 Firearms.. ... .. •• •• • • 27 * *° Cutting-instruments .. .. • • .. 15 3 18 Other modes .. • • • • • • .. 6 Total suicides .. .. • • • • 89 14 103 Causes of Deaths in the Auckland District. Dr. Purdy reports as follows : — Zymotic Diseases. Auckland and suburban boroughs — Diarrhceal diseases .. • ■ • • • • ■ • .. 99 Influenza .. . • • • • • • • • • '' of Typhoid-fever .. .. .. • ■ • • • • " o Scarlet fever Diphtheria .. • • • • • • • • • • • • * Whooping-cough Croup Measles .. . . • • • • • • • • • • " ' A Other zymotic diseases 139 Eleven of the deaths from enteric fever occurred in the last three months of the last departmental year, sin April, and 3in May. Thus, 19 of the 21 deaths are the aftermath of the epidemic which was fully reported upon in last annual report. It is noticeable also that of the 99 deaths from diarrhceal diseases all but 11 occurred within the same period. Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases. The record for five years is as follows : — . 1904 . ' .. • • • • .. 55 deaths. 1905 .. .. ■ • •■ • • • • • • "" to " 1906 f " 1907 .. .. ■ • • • •- • • • • " ko " 1908 .. .. • • • ■ •• • • • • .. 52 „

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