H,— 3l

Of the 392 cases reported from the South Island, 26 ended fatally, a case fatality rate of 6-6 per cent. The rate becomes 9-8 per cent, if only the 264 cases showing some evidence of paralysis are considered. In the North Island there were 427 cases, of which 321 showed paralytic symptoms. The case fatality rate per cent, of all cases in the North Island was 3-0, and of those with symptoms of paralysis was 4-1. The popular name for this disease, " Infantile Paralysis," indicates that in the past the disease was one which particularly affected children in the early years of life. Such was the case in the 1925 epidemic, but the tendency both in New Zealand and in some overseas countries appears to be for the older age-groups to be attacked more frequently. From the appended table it will be seen that, whereas 55-3 per cent, of the reported cases in 1925 were children under five years of age, the percentage of cases in this period of life in the recent epidemic was only 27-4 per cent. In the two tables given below both European and Maoris are included. Acute Poliomyelitis. Table showing percentage of recorded cases in each age-group for the 1925 epidemic and for preliminary figures December, 1936, to June, 1937 :—■

Table showing notifications of acute poliomyelitis by months and health districts for period December, 1936, to June, 1937 :—

(d) Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Infectious Diseases amongst Maoris. Table D attached gives the number of notifications of infectious disease received for members of the Maori race. These figures are not included in the European figures, as a large number of cases amongst Maoris are missed, due to the fact that a large proportion of Maoris fail to obtain medical assistance when they become ill. Of the 468 notifications received, 214, or over 45 per cent, of the total, were of pulmonary tuberculosis, a disease to which the Maori is very susceptible. The next disease in order of importance of the number notified is typhoid fever, of which disease 134 cases were notified. The prevalence of these diseases is due, for the most part, to their lack of sanitation and the ease with which infection can and does spread. The only other diseases to reach double figures were influenza, puerperal fever, diphtheria, and bacillary dysentery.

14

Ase otoud lQ2f) 1936-37 1936-37 ê g0P ' 5 - (All Cases). (Paralytic Cases). Under 1 year .. .. 5-3 1-6 1-7 1 year and under 5 years .. 50-0 25-8 29-6 5 years and under 10 ,, 23-6 32-5 29-4 10 „ 15 „ .. 9-9 19-5 17-6 15 „ 20 „ .. 5-5 9-0 9-6 20 years and over .. .. 5-7 11-6 12-1

I j ■ , — la la i| la 1 « ā| 1-* |f 1§ I § 1 ****** I i mlt *i I i i i i December . . 1 .. 3 .. 78 3 85 January .. . . .. 8 2 .. 1 1 .. 15 .. 39 3 69 February .. 1 2 I . . 16 2 20 12 53 March .. 9 1 5 6 13 2 1 28 3 23 14 105 April .. .. . . 4 13 23 17 21 24 23 21 34 3 35 10 14 4 246 May .. . . .. 6 16 23 5 11 6 21 8 19 1 35 3 4 3 161 June .. .. . . 9 18 13 3 10 5 11 3 8 .. 11 2 3 4 100 Totals .. .. 19 55 61 34 44 40 61 46 67 5 143 20 181 43 819

Deaths. Year. Number of Notifications. ■ ■ Number. R * tes Pf 1O of Mean Population. 1931 .. .. .. 1,109 501 3-47 1932 ...... 904 488 3-35 1933 .. .. .. 890 476 3-24 1934 ...... 824 491 3-32 1935 .. .. .. 808 471 3-17 1936 ...... 934 540 3-62