VITAL STATISTICS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 877, 17 April 1877, Page 3

VITAL STATISTICS.

The Registrar-Greneral's report on flic vital statistics of the boroughs of Auckland, Thames, AVellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Duncdin, and Hokitika during the month of March lias been published. There were 302 births and 125 deaths. The highest proportion of deaths to the 1000 of population was in Auckland, being I*9l ; and the lowest at the Thames, being \SS. The births were 24 more than in February. The deaths were 5 more in number than the deaths of February. Of the deaths, males contributed 78 ; females, 47 ; 65 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being [52 per cent, of the whole number; 41 of these were of children under 1 year of age. There were 5 deaths of persons of Go years of age and over; 3 of these persons were males and 2 females ; of these, 1 male aged 76, and 1 female aged 87, died at Auckland; 1 male of G 8 at Wellington; and 1 male of 77, with 1 female o,f 76, at Duncdin. Out of the total number of deaths in seven boroughs, 50, oy. 40 per- cent, \yer.c the result of zymotic diseases. The most, fata} of these, complaints was scarlatina, which caused 20 deaths—lo at Duncdin and 10 at Hokitika ; the death rate for the latter town is op tips account extraordinarily high, being 0-20 deaths per 1,000, persons In February there were qn}y 6 deaths from scarlatina; 1 at Ohris.tchurph, 3 at Duncdin, and 2 at Hokitika. The mortality from diarrh«?a, oamipg nex4 lit importance, is considerably lower than in February ; the total number of deaths being 15 against 25. Of these 15 deaths in March, 3 occurred at Auckland, 4 at Wellington, 2 at Kelson, 5 at Duncdin, and 1 at, Hokitika, The decrease at, Wellington (luring two months is very considerable ; January showing 20 deaths from bowel complaints, and February 8, against 4 abovementioned in last months, Deaths from croup, whooping cough, and fever were the same in number as in February. Out of 4 cases of typhoid fever, 2 were at Wellington. There were 13 deaths in March from bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, and congestion of tlie lungs, against 7 from bronchitis and lung disease in February. Of the 13 in March, 4 occurred at Wellington. There were no violent deaths in the boroughs in March. Tlie total number of deaths in the boroughs during the last month amounted to 42 less than the number in March, 1876. There were 50 deaths from zymotic diseases last month, the number from similar causes in March, 1876, having been 78. Scarlatina was more prevalent in March last; b,ut deaths from croup, dysentery, diarrhoea, and foyers wore more numerous in March of the previous year. Developmental diseases, including promature births, deaths from malformations, old a"C, and debility in children, caused 8 deaths, against 20 in March, 1876,