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Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID. REPORT THEREON BY THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AND CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER.

Presented in 'pursuance, of Section 76 of the Hospitals ami Charitable Institutions Act, 1918.

REPORT. The Tnspector-General of Hospitals to the Hon. Minister op Public Health. Department of Public Health, Hospitals, and Charitable Aid, Sir,-- Wellington, 30th October, 1918. 1 have the honour to lay before you the report of the Department for the year ending 31st March, 1918. Births and Deaths. The number of births registered in the Dominion during 1917 was 28,239, or 25-69 per 1,000 of the mean population, as against 28,509 in 1916, or 25-94 per 1,000 of the mean population. The deaths numbered 10,528, or 9-58 per 1,000 of the mean population, as against 10,596 in 1916, or 9-64 per 1,000 of the mean population. 1 )eaths from the more prevalent infectious diseases were as follows : —

The. deaths of children under one year of age were as follows : —

Disease. Typhoid fever Scarlet fever Diphtheria Pulmonary tuberculosis i Number of Deaths. 1017. 1910. 41 37 30 52 237 163 597 591 | " '. Proportion per 10,000 of Mean Population. •___ 1917. 1916. 0-37 0-34 0-27 0-47 2-16 1-48 5-43 5-38

Number of Deaths. Percentage of Total. Cause. Whooping-cough Convulsions Bronchitis and pneumonia .. Diarrhoea and. enteritis Malformations Premature birth Congenital debility Other causes 1917. 1916. 1917. 1910. I 29 63 2-13 4-36 56 74 4-12 5-12 96 123 7-06 8-50 146 164 10-74 11-34 .120 108 8-82 7-47 380 381 27-94 26-35 208 215 15-29 14-87 325 318 23-90 21-99 Total .. . 1,360 1,446 100-00 100-00 I i