HEALTH RECORDS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1930, Page 5

HEALTH RECORDS

DOMINION’S POSITION

WORLD'S LOWEST DEATH RATE.

The .Minister, of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) stated on Tuesday thii.t New Zealand still niaiifltajned its proud position in having the lowest death rate in the world (says the ‘Tost”).

Two other records in health have •also Ibeeu established. The infantile death-rate in .1928 was 86.18 per thousand births, which constituted a record lor New Zealand, and also for the world. During the <past year the rate was still lower, namely 34.10 per thousand births. New Zealand has, in addition, tlie lowest death-rate frin tiiherculpsis in the w0r1d—4.56 'per 10,000 of population. The prinicipal causes of death last year were: Heart disease (all forms), 2533, cancer, 1467; chest diseases, 1200; violence, 955: tuberculosis (all forms), 642. The deaths from the common infection diseases were: Influenza, all forms (including pneumuvn), 297; diphtheria, ,92<; scarlet fever, 27; typhoid fever, 22; whooping cough, 17; measles, 1.

MEDICAL COMMENTS

The highest six cause spf. death ..account for 7437 deaths, approximatelj* two-thirds of the total. Obviously, states the Director of Public Hygiene (Dr T. M’Kibbon), with'some of them," namely, tuberculosis, the' common chest diseases, some forms of heart disease and apoplexy, habits of life and environment are important factor. The correction of faulty Habits, \tfuere applicable, and the improvement of the environment of an unfortunate or careless minority of the public, would reduce these deaths, and the numbers are such as to offer a margin of gain worth the effort. It is only Iby the active co-operation of the public, the local authorities, the medical and nursing professions, and the Department of Health in definite disease prevention in the home, school, and working environment of the people that great reduction iu our cleath-rate will be made, New Zealand has a low general deathrate—the lowest m the world—but its reduction has been far less rapid than that of th e birtli-riite.

The reduction in infant deaths in the past three years was: 1927, infant deaths under one year, 1080, a reduction of 52 as compared with 1926; 1928, deaths 984, reduction 96; 1929, infant deaths 912, reduction 72.

CANCER

Cancer is increasing in prevalence at a slow rate. Being disease of late life, and having in the past often missed detection or registration, . its apparent increase is in considerable measure accounted for by our longer span of life and greater skill in diagnosis. The real increase is slight, and can he checked if advice and treatment be sought early, Recent results show that the proportion of actual oures from the treatment of early cancer is very high indeed. Particularly after the age of thirtyfive people should seek early medical examination for any unusual condition which might be cancer.

TUBERCULOSIS

New Zealand has the lowest- deathrate from tuberculosis in the world, in common with Geat Britain and many other countries its has steadily reduced in the last half-century. This year’s rate is remarkably low. Tuberculosis, however, still takes fifth place as a cause of death in New Zealand; and disables temporarily or permanently many more than its kills. Of (142 deaths last year (as compared with 699 for the previous year), 524 were assigned to pulmonary tuberculosis.

The pulmonary cases are regarded bv most authorities as being conveyed from human sources. There were 13”4 notifications of fresh cases during the ear. In the South Island . particularly there is a growing tendency for special institutional treatment to be undertaken in the early course of the disease.

MATERNAL MORTALITY,

The number of deaths from all .puerperal causes last year was 129 per 1000 births, as compared with 134 for the previoiis year—the percentages being 4.82 for the past year and 4.93 for the previous year. Ihe international list shows that New Zealand s puerperal death-rate, unlike her genfiriil death-rate, is relatively high, fieden. Italy, Netherlands and Norway vary from 2.51 to 2.65 per 1000 births. The rate for England and Wales is 4.00 per 1000 births, Australia 5.49 per 1000 births. In the opinion of the Director of Public Hygiene, it is .probable that not only in New Zealand, but also* in several other countries with rather high death-rates, the death-rates are iu some measure attributable to the scattered distribution of population Tendering ante-naital care and the pocurement of skilled midwifery ser-k-e more difficult of attainment.