H.—3l

Analysis of Deaths of Infants under One Month of Age, 1927. The following table gives the causes of these deaths during the year : —

It will be seen from this table that 540 of a total of 720 infant deaths in the first month of life occurred during the first week, and may be regarded as mainly due to pre-natal influences. It is also of interest to record that exactly half of the infant deaths (in the first twelve months of life) occurred in this first week —i.e., 540 in a total of 1,080. Maternal Mortality. The following table shows the number of deaths from puerperal causes, and the rate of such deaths per 1,000 births, for the five-yearly period 1923-27 : —

Deaths from all Puerperal Causes, 1923-27.

There has been a marked increase in the death-rate from puerperal septicaemia in 1927, but a reduction in that from other purperal causes, such as puerperal albuminurea and convulsions, puerperal haemorrhage, accidents of labour, &c. This increase in the death-rate from puerperal septicaemia demands investigation. In last year's report I referred to the fact that the death-rate from all puerperal causes has shown remarkable periodic variations. I am indebted to the Government Statistician for the preparation of the graph which I submit hereunder, showing from 1872 to 1927 (inclusive) the annual death-rates from " all puerperal causes " and from " puerperal septicaemia " and " other puerperal causes," which jointly make up the total rate for all puerperal causes.

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• m OD M * TT J JMl 1-Sf 1-S 8 l-SS Cause of Death. I n n n er „ 3 & I & s Total. OneDay. § g * OS« EcoS Sao e6 O O e L_j c8 Q I H EH H ' Influenza .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 .. 1 4 Syphilis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Meningitis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Convulsions .. .. .. .. 2 11 4 1 2 20 Bronchitis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Broncho-pneumonia .. .. .... 1 2 3 3 9 Pneumonia .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 1 3 Diarrhoea and enteritis .. .. .. .. .. 2 3 2 7 Congenital malformations .. 10 54 19 10 9 102 Congenital debility .. .. 18 36 8 9 9 80 Injury at birth .. . . .. . . 18 33 4 .. .1 56 Premature birth .. . . .. 148 118 24 12 5 307 Other diseases .. .. .. 23 45 14 4 2 88 Accidental mechanical suffocation.. .. 1 1 .. .. .. 2 Other causes .. .. .. .. 4 16 11 4 4 .39 Total .. .. 224 316 91 48 41 720

Number of Deaths from Death-rate per 1,000 Live Births from Puerperal Other All Puerperal Other All a a.- • Puerperal Puerperal „ . P . Puerperal j Puerperal Septicaemia. Cau^es _ Causes. Septicemia. Ca J e8 . j c J ses 1923 .. .. 52 91 ! 143 1-86 3-25 5-11 1924 .. .. 52 88 140 1-86 3-14 5-00 1925 .. .. 42 89 131 1-49 3-16 4-65 1926 .. .. 39 81 120 1-37 2-88 4-25 1927 .. .. 70 67 137 I 2-51 2-40 4-91