H.—3l.

Blood-poisoning. Cases notified during the past five years are : — 1904-5 .. .. .. .. .. •• •• -.16 1905-6 .: .. .. •• ■ • •• •• -.21 1906-7 .. .. .. •• •• •• •• •■ 19 1907-8 .. .. .. •• •• •• •• -.76 1908-9 .. .. .. .. .. •• •• •• 77 Only in the diseases which are classified as blood-poisoning is an increase of cases of diseases such as are dealt with under the Public Health Act recorded in the Auckland District. In the Auckland report for 1904-5 it was observed, " By reason of the uncertainty as to what should be so notified under this heading, the figures obtained are of no statistical value." The increase in the returns for the last two years are no doubt to be largely accounted for by more complete notification, and now therefore may be regarded as one of some statistical value. This is noticeable in connection with the operation of the Midwives Act in regard to the various forms of puerperal septicajmia, of which cases notified have increased from 3 in 1905-6, 3 in 1906-7, to 23 in 1907-8, and to 29 in 1908-9, the increase being the result of more perfect notification. Of the 77 cases recorded, 29 are puerperal septicaemia, 33 are erysipelas, 3 tetanus, and 12 various forms, or unclassified. The number of cases of puerperal septicaemia is still, unfortunately, high in this district. They are distributed as follows :10 in the city, 15 in the suburbs, and 4in the country. From the Ist January to the 31st December, 1908, there were 7 deaths from this cause in Auckland and suburban boroughs. In accordance with the procedure laid down under the Midwives Act, there were 13 cases in which 8 midwives were suspended from practice for a month, and 5 unregistered women in attendance warned not to practise. I have reason to believe that cases of tetanus have occurred which have escaped notification, pointing to the desirability of tetanus being specifically noted as a notifiable disease. Anthrax. One case suspicious of anthrax was reported from the Warkworth district, where a man who had been handling a cow which died after a short illness had what clinically appeared to be a malignant pustule. The treatment with strong antiseptics before a bacteriological examination was made probably gave rise to a negative result. The carcase of the cow had been burned immediately aftei death, thus not allowing an opportunity for examination by Mr. Sanderson, the Government Veterinarian, who visited the locality with mc. Leprosy. A case of leprosy was reported from a Maori bush camp away back from Maramarua, which was found to be tuberculosis of the foot. The boy, who was in a very neglected condition, was admitted to the Waikato Hospital. Occupational Diseases. Information was collected as to the incidence of pneumonokoniosis in the mining districts. In New Zealand provision is made by section 255 of the Mining Regulations for the supply water for jet purposes in developmental work, the latter having been shown by the Transvaal Commission and other investigations to be a fruitful source of raising dust. Especially at Waihi do the figures available show that, as far as this district is concerned, the miner are not affected to the same extent as on the Witwatersrand. Thus, Mr. Mann, Registrar at Waihi, informs me that during the past ten years there have only been 30 deaths from respiratory diseases among miners in Waihi district. There are altogether 1,600 men engaged there in mining, 700 of whom are underground workers. That makes a yearly average of 1-87 per 1,000, contrasted with 1-6 per 1,000 for the four centres, including deaths from all ages above five years from respiratory diseases. Thus the Waihi figures confirm the general opinion prevailingthere that miners' phthisis is not common in that town, as the conditions encourage wet mining. However, respiratory diseases are still a noticeable factor in the sickness-rate. Dr. Robertson, Superintendent of the Waihi Hospital, has supplied me with the following from the Hospital register :—

Respiratory Diseases in Waihi Hospital from 1904-8.

25

Age. Phthisis. Pneumonia. Bronchitis. Pleurisy. Asthma. Males. ! 10 4 13 9 3 4 1 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 '.'. '.'. ! i 2 3 .. i 3 1 2 2 5 4 10 2 1 1 3 4 3 1 1 1 Total ..j 10 10 44 26 10 4 Miners in these totals ..! "5 20 3 4—H. 31.