H.—3l.

Of the 576 deaths from tuberculosis last year, 471 (=317) were assigned to pulmonary tuberculosis and 105 to other forms of the disease. Other Forms of Tuberculosis.—The 105 deaths last year from other forms of tuberculosis were distributed as follows:-— Tuberculosis of the meninges and central nervous system . . . . 40 Tuberculosis of intestines and peritoneum . . .. 22 Tuberculosis of vertebral column .. .. .. 14 Tuberculosis of bones and joints .. .. .. .... Tuberculosis of lymphatic system . . . . . . .... Tuberculosis of genito-urinary system .. . . . . 7 Tuberculosis of other organs .. .. . . .. 4 Disseminated tuberculosis .. . . . . • • . . 18 105 Tuberculosis of the Respiratory System.—The downward trend continues, the number of deaths, 471, being 20 lower than in 1934 and 5 lower than in 1933. It is necessary to go back to the early " eighties," when the population was under half a million, to find a lower number of deaths. The average crude death-rate per 10,000 of mean population for the period 1880-84 was 9-49, compared with 317 for 1935. The accompanying table (Table F) gives the standardized death-rates for every fifth year from 1910 to 1930, and for each year thereafter, for tuberculosis of the respiratory system and some of the forms of non-pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis other than of the Respiratory System.—Deaths from other forms of tuberculosis decreased by 25 from 130 in 1934 to 105 in 1935. Although very little investigation of the type of bacillus responsible for cases of tuberculosis other than pulmonary has been carried out in New Zealand, the small amount of information available points to approximately 80 per cent, of the cases being due to human type and 20 per cent, to the bovine type of bacillus. The decline in pulmonary tuberculosis inevitably leads to lessened risk of contacts contracting non-pulmonary tuberculosis due to the human type of bacillus, and the campaign against pulmonary tuberculosis is therefore the method of attack likely to have the greatest effect on the morbidity and mortality from these non-pulmonary forms of the disease. Disease due to the bovine type of bacillus can be prevented by the elimination of tuberculous cows from the herds supplying milk to the community and enlightened public opinion throughout the world is demanding that steps be taken in this direction. A greatdeal of valuable work in this respect has already been carried out in New Zealand by the Department of Agriculture. Proper pasteurization of milk for human consumption eliminates the risk of this disease, but such method of treatment of milk is only available in the larger centres of population. Several local authorities have recently taken an interest in the question of a tubercle-free milk-supply, and a.re taking steps to see that only such milk is supplied in their areas. The deaths from " Other forms of Tuberculosis " give no indication of the amount of sickness and suffering caused by the disease. In 1934 the number of cases treated in the public hospitals of the Dominion was 765. The number of deaths recorded was 130. These figures are not comparable, as the number of cases treated in public hospitals is not necessarily the total number of cases under treatment; and, in addition, the hospital figures include Maoris, whereas the deaths do not.

Table F.—Tuberculosis: Standardized Death-rates per Million of Mean Population.

15

«*— "gK» »——• S£ wJSzr'l «"»• Males. 1910 .. 756 617 21 63 27 28 1915 .. 637 528 18 48 10 33 1920 .. .. 723 571 33 59 18 42 1925 .. 557 448 15 53 17 24 1930 .. .. 467 387 14 31 14 21 1931 .. .. 437 348 9 50 9 21 1932 .. .. 419 328 26 34 11 20 1933 .. .. 401 310 18 30 4 39 1934 .. .. 427 326 17 57 4 23 1935 .. .. 398 312 10 38 20 18