CAUSES OF DEATH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5151, 13 July 1927, Page 2

CAUSES OF DEATH.

TOLL OF CANCER; MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. Dealing with the causes of the deaths recorded in the Donliniop last year th© latest Monthly Statistics says it is now many years since typhoid fever figured at all prominently in New Zealand vital statistics. The death rate from this disease has remained practically stationary during the past decennium. The history of influenza death statistics in New Zealand discloses no less that four epidemics of varying" severity during the decade just past. Paramount among these, of course, was the optbreak of 1918, a slight recrudescence of which may be said to have occurred in 1920. Three years later, in 1923, the influenza death-rate again assumed noticeable proportions. The fourth epidemic was that of 1926, when the total number of deaths was 288, including 132 from pneumonic influenza. Only 11 deaths from infantile paralysis were registered during 1926, corresponding to a rate of 0.08 per 10,000 of the population. Thus all traces of the previous year’s epidemic have apparently disappeared. For the first time since 1920 the death-rate from tuberculosis of the respiratory system showed an upward movement during 1926. CANCER DEATH RATE. The cancer death-rate for 1926 of 9.91 per 10,000 of population is in the unenviable position of being the highest attained by this disease in New Zealand . Cancer is capable of effecting practically any organ or part of the human system.

For the treatment of persons suffering from diametes insulin was probably first used extensively in New Zealand in the year 1922. The diabetes death-rate for that year was 1.27 i>er 10,000 of population. Naturally (remarks the abstract) any improvement could not be expected from this source immediately, and so the increase of the rate to 1.42 per 10,000 in 1923 was by no means conclusive or even suggestive evidence of the failure of the remedy. accidental DEATHS Deaths from accidental external causes are a phase of mortality statistics which is gradually demanding an increase in public interest throughout the civilised world. Prior to 1926 this cause of death in New Zealand for the latter half of the decennium 1917-26 occupied a, more favourable position than the first five years, 1917-21. The average deathrate for the latter four yeafs, 192225, was 4.58, as against 4.83 for the earlier portion of, the period under review. The increase in the rate for 1926 to 5.23, however, is responsible for raising the average rate for the second half of the decennium to 4.72, a figure which is in much doser proximity to the earlier average. Suicide in New Zealand does not present any alarming features,, the death-rate from this cause maintaining a fairly constant level. The figure for 1926 was 1.13 per 10,000, there being 153 deaths resulting from suicide during the year. Deaths from motor-vehicle accL dents are largely responsible in New,, Zealand, as in most countries, for recent increases in the general accidental death rate. The number of deaths attributable to such accidents during 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, and 1926 are 61, 59, 94, 108, and 148 respectively. Homicidal deaths are by no means an extensive factor in the mortality statistics of New Zealand. The number (14) of deaths, and the rate (0*.10) for 1926 ore fairly well in keeping with the average for the last ten years, 12 and 0.09 respectively.