PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1590, 6 November 1912, Page 5

PUBLIC HEALTH.

annual report. ' A LOW BIRTH-KATE. The report of the Department of Public Health,' presented to Parliament yesshows that tho birth-rate of the Dominion for 1911 was 25.97 per 1000—the lowest recorded. sinco 1902 (25.89). But for tho low birth-rate recorded in Victoria for the year 1911 (21.81), New Zealand would have had the unenviable distinction of the lowest birth-rate in Australasia. The death-rate for 1911 was 9.39—slightly lower than that of the previous year (9.71). The lowest death-rate recorded in New Zealand was that for 189G (9.10). Tho infantile death-rate—tho total number of deaths under one year per 1000 births—was 56.31, the lowest infantile mortality rate hitherto recorded in the Dominion. Tuberculosis. In 1911, 738 persons died from some form or other of tubercular disease—the mortality .rate being 7.27 per 10,000, tho lowest hitherto recorded. Of these 738 deaths, 536 were due to phthisis, the mortality rate for the. latter being 5.28 per 10,000. The decrease in this mortality rate which .was commented upon in last year's report, has therefore been maintained. Though this is eminently satisfactory, the; report remarks, it is .to be hoped that during the ensuing year hospital. hoards arid other public and privato authorities will initiate a more ngcrous campaign. against this disease.. . Cancer. ■ The statistics relating to cancer showthat there has been a gradual increase in tho mortality rate from this disease, which* was,, the-, cause last. year of 809 deaths, or a mortality rate of 7.97—the highest hitherto recorded in New Zealand. At one time, the report states, it was thought that the increase was due to more accurate diagnosis on the part of the profession, .but this solace can no longer bo allowed.. The causes of cancer and the reasons for. its.increase, it is further stated, are -.unknown) and wo' can therefore only-;wait-as patiently, as we can tho reports ' of. .the .'-.Cancer Research Commission. - . .... Infectious Diseases. Infectious, disease cases notified last year numbered 4878;' as 'against 4153 in 1910. Chief -of--.''these. Were: Scarlet fever, 2362 casbs, with only 9 deaths; diphtheria; BGB cases; enteric fever, 792 cases, with 67 deaths. ' '" . Special attention is directed to the part that, the Maori. plays in the spread of typhoid fever. The epidemics at Waiapu, Ahiparaj TV Puke, Ripia, Kawhia, and other places, it is stated, originated inNative settlements, and the epidemic at Gisborne was largely due to the same source. It is significant that of the <92 notifications only'B9 were from the south Island. ■ .. The hospital expenditure goes on increasing. In 1909 it : was <£247,123. Nonit is .£329,513..-' /.