H.-31.

It will be noted that there is a marked fall in the total number of notifiable-disease cases during the year. The numbers are, however, still much in excess of those for the year 1906. Fewer scarlet-fever cases are mainly responsible for the decrease. Enteric fever has shown a tendency to recrudescence in Wellington and Wanganui. The epidemic at MartinboroUgh came to an end with 5 cases at the beginning of the year —a total of 10. The diphtheria figures are generally lower, Bull's being the only place where an epidemic manifested itself. Tuberculosis : I do not attach much importance to the seeming increase in the number of cases of tuberculosis, in all cases affection of the lungs being reported. lam more inclined to attribute the increase to the more complete compliance of the medical attendants with the now used notification of this disease. Much the same remark may be made in regard to the figures for blood-poisoning. The Midwives Act has brought into prominence the need for the notification of infective puerperal conditions. Canterbury District. In Table No. 1 every case notified in every house has been counted ; in the other tables only one case has been counted to each house when two or more have been notified from the same house.

Table No. 1. — Infectious Disease.

29

Scarlot Fever. Enteric Fever. Diphtheria. Tuberculosis. Bloodpoisoning. Hydatids. Totals. Summary. Boroughs Town districts Counties.. 508 12 202 74 8 37 134 13 45 142 6 58 31 1 11 4 1 893 40 357 Total, 1908 Total, 1907 722 959 119 102 192 296 206 171 46 39 5 5 1,290 1,574

o -P Ph -HP > 1-7J ■—[ H m EH g Ha co g w ,§ Akaroa County ... Little River Ashburton County Ashburton Rakaia Methven and district Tinwald Ashley County Amberley Rangiora Kaiapoi Flaxton Ohoka Sefton Oxford Fernside Waikari Cheviot County ... Geraldine County Geraldine Temuka Winchester Orari... Kaikoura County Kaikoura Levels County Timaru Mackenzie County Fairlie Selwyn County Christchurch ... Woolston Heathcote Riccarton Spreydon Lyttelton 3,712 "l 3 16,188 *3 12 1 7 1 ' 2 1 8 1 1 1 "1 1 2 1 ' 1 15,251 "2 1 2 3 1 4 2 3 1 1 3 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 l,o05 7,712 1 5 2 6 1 "l 3 1 5 1 3 "l 1 1 1 1 "5 1,747 1 1 3 1 8 66 14,284 o 10 1 4 12 1,939 2 2 39 1 3 3 1 4 16 1 96,626 14 "6 37 34 "5 1 2 1 5 1 3 2 3 1 6 1 1 1 2 1 1 13 3