9

1T.—31

New Zealand has the lowest death-rate from tuberculosis in the world. In common with many other countries, including Great Britain, it has steadily reduced in the last half-century. This year's rate is remarkably low. Tuberculosis, however, still takes fifth place as a cause of death in New Zealand, and disables temporarily or permanently many more than it kills. Of 642 deaths from tuberculosis last year, 524 were assigned to pulmonary tuberculosis, and 118 to other forms of this disease, comprising tuberculous meningitis and peritonitis, and tuberculosis of the bones, joints, glands, &c. Pulmonary Tuberculosis. The pulmonary cases are regarded by most authorities as conveyed from human sources. There were 1,-374 notifications of fresh cases during the year, and although during the last few years the number has increased, while that of the deaths has reduced, there is reason to believe all are not yet notified.- In the South Islaud particularly there is a growing tendency for special institutional treatment to be undertaken in the early course of the disease. A distressing feature of this disease of adult —often early adult—life, and one which frequently assumes economic importance owing to the involvement of breadwinners in the process, is the protracted convalescence. Modern sanatorium practice is to retain cases in such an institution for long periods, owing to the frequency of relapses following short courses of treatment. New Zealand has not yet embarked upon a colony to accommodate tuberculous adults with their families and enable them to earn a little under medical supervision at suitable occupations before they are fitted to engage independently in full-time occupation. If the Hospital Boards continue to develop sanatoria, some such provision will probably be found advisable. Other Forms of Tuberculosis. The 118 deaths last year from other forms of tuberculosis were made up as follows :— Tuberculosis of meninges and central nervous system . . . . 46 Tuberculosis of intestines and peritoneum . . . . . . 14 Tuberculosis of vertebral column . . .. .. .. 11 Tuberculosis of bones .. .. .. . . .. . . 2 Tuberculosis of genito-urinary system . . . . . . .. 18 Tuberculosis of other organs .. .. .. .. . . 3 Disseminated tuberculosis .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 118 A small proportion only of these latter deaths, particularly those of children, are deemed by recognized authorities to be possibly due to infection from the cow, and bacteriological tests of milk-supplies in New Zealand have shown the milk-supply to be remarkably free from bovine tubercle. Kidney or Bright's Disease, 537. Since 1900, unlike heart-disease, apoplexy, and diseases of the arteries, the death-rates from which have greatly increased, that from kidney or Bright's disease has shown little variation. Diabetes, 201. There has been little variation in the death-rate from diabetes in recent years. Diseases and Accidents or Childbirth, 129. MATERNAL MORTALITY. The following table shows the number of deaths from pu&rperal causes, and the rate of such deaths per 1,000 births, for each of the five years, 1925-29 : —

Deaths from all Puerperal Causes, 1925-29.

2 FT. 31.

Number of Deaths from Death-rate per 1,000 Live Births from ear - , Other All „ , j Other ! All uerpera Puerperal Puerperal « uerpera Puerperal Puerperal Septicaemia. Cau^es . Cau F ses . Septicemia. Cau^ea , I Ca ua e s. 1925 .. .. 42 89 131 1-49 3-16 4-65 1926 .. .. 39 81 120 1-37 2-88 4-25 1927 .. .. 70 67 137 2-51 2-40 4-91 1928 .. .. 56 78 134 2-06 2-87 4-93 1929 .. .. 49 80 129 1-83 2-99 4-82