Public Health.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1922, Page 4

Public Health.

anneal departmentai REPORT.

WELLINGTON. Sept. 1.-, The annual report of the Depart ment of Public Health states that tin I*ublit* Health for the past year, as shown in the lowered death rate, may on the whole he considered sat isl'aetorv and especially so as regards the incidence of certain of the notifiable diseases. Since the Department mis established, in 1900, the erode death rale for the Dominion has fallen from 10.0 to 8.73 per thousand, while the I standardised death rate, recognised as | the international index of mortality, tell to 10.93, the lowest for the last decade, and nlso, it is believed, of any country in the world. Moreover, the infant mortality rate has fallen from <1.9 in 1900 to 47.8 per thousand with a corresponding decrease over the same period for the chief centres. The work of tlihe division of child welfare will raise hopes that we may look lor a s*ill further decline in the rate of infantile mortality. Reference is made to the increase of still births in New Zealand. The position is far from satisfactory. There is tin indication, however, for investigation ns to the causes, and if possible, the application of remedial measures. Otherwise we fall short in the objective of a reduction of the antenatal and neonatal death rate. This problem, as well as that of the lowered birth rate presents, it appears other aspects than that embraced by preventive and curative medicine. In reference to the notifiable diseases, the report mentions that the death rate from enteric fever still

shows a steady decline, a matter

congratulation, as its prevalence and that of allied diseases is recognised as one of the most reliable and accepted indications as to the sanitary condition "f a country. In comparison with the neighbouring Australian states our death rate for this disease is striking-

ly low. Cerebro spinal meningitis shows a decline, acute poliomyelitis a substantial increase, puerperal septicaemia the lowest death rate from

1917, and erysipelas an increasing prevalence, while influenza was markedly less common than in former years, there were two eases of leprosy among Chinamen.

•Of the non-notifiable disease, rancor is tho most prominent. From this disease, 1004 deaths occurred, giving a rate of 8.53 per 10,000 of persons living as against 8.72 for the previous year. Measles and whooping cough

were much less prevalent. \ enereal diseases are far too common. The clinics established in the various centres have done excellent

work, and their facilities are being extended to sailors from overseas ships. Measures considered necessary to prevent the introduction of plague havekept Departmental officers very busy. It was very difficult to get local authorities to see the need for certain precautions, hut happily with few exceptions they rose to the occasion.