VITAL STATISTICS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1363, 27 June 1878, Page 3

VITAL STATISTICS.

The “New Zealand Q-azette” contains the vital statistics for the month of May, from which we take the following :

The births were 9 fewer than in April ; the deaths were 6 lees in number than the deaths in April. Of the deaths 1 , males contributed 51 ; females, 45 ; 37 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 38'54 per cent, of the whole number; 28 of these were children under 1 year of age. There were 5 deaths of persons over 6p years of age ; two of these persons were males and 3 were females ; 1 female of 78 died in Wellington ; 1 female of fll at N. 1 on ; 1 male of 67 and 4 female of 77 at Christchurch ; and 1 male of 70 at Dunedin. 96 deaths were registered in the seven boroughs during May, against a total of 102 during April. At the Boroughs of Thames, Nelson, and Dunedin, there were fewer deaths in May ; but in the other boroughs the number of deaths was slightly greater than in April. Of the zymotic diseases there was a marked decrease In the number of deaths from diseases of the miasmatic order, the numbers having been 28 in April against 14 in May; of these deaths those from whooping cough were 3 less in number than in April; those from typhoid and continued fever 4 lees, and those from dysentery and diarrhoea 8 lees. But there was a large proportionate increase in deaths from diseases of the respiratory system, the number having increased from 6in April to in May, owing to the largo number of deaths from bronclutiq aiid pneumonia. The deaths from phthisis increased from 5 in April to 9 in May. The subjoined table shows the mor tality for the two months at each town from six principal zymotic diseases of tho miasmatic order and also the deaths from certain inflammatory diseases of tho lungs. These causes of death haye been distinguished from the others of the classes to which they belong, as being the most important special diseases which give rise to sudden increase in the death-rates of towns, and the prevalence of which is closely connected with sanitary condition and climatic influence of tho season on health. Four deaths resulted from accident in the month of May. A carpenter was killed by falling from a scaffold ; one child was burnt, and another suffocated ; and one acci dental death was undescribed as to cause. The deaths during May, 1877, amounted to 104, being eight more than in May, 1878. In the former month scarlatina caused 14 deaths, but only one last month. :

Boroughs. Estimated population. Total Births. | Total ! Deaths. Proportion of Deaths to the 1000 of Population. Auckland 13,732 41 19 1'33 Thames 5,425 19 3 •55 Wellington 19,037 77 26 1-36 Nelson 0 003 18 7 106 Christchurch ... 13,402 42 20 1-49 Dui.edjn 22,491 88 16 •72 Hokitika 3,244 11 5 1-54 Totals — 298 96 —