VITAL STATISTICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5479, 25 September 1929, Page 2

VITAL STATISTICS.

FIGURES FOR AUGUST.

FEWER DEATHS THAN IN JULY.

In the Government report for August on vital statistics for the urban areas of the Dominion, New Plymouth showed the highest ratio of deaths with 1.35 per 1000 of population, and Timaru the lowest with .62. The North Island showed 1.08 and the South Island .97. The total number of deaths in August was 712, a decrease of 18, as compared with the previous month. Live births registered totalled 1074, as against 1054 in July, an increase of 20. Of births, New Plymouth headed the list with 2.11 per 1000, and at the bottom of the table came Timaru, with 1.23.

Of deaths in all-age groups, the most took place among males between 70 and 75—44 in all—and among females between 75 and 80—43 in all. No centenarian deaths were recorded, but two men and two women died between the ages of 95 and 100. Diseases of the heart, with 174, came first in the list of causes of death, followed by cancer of various organs with 82. Pneumonia and broncho-pneumonia accounted for 58, tuberculosis in its 1 various forms 29, and apoplexy 24. Deaths by suicide through various means totalled 9, and fatal accidents numbered 36, including 6 by drowning. Premature births, with 17, caused the largest number of deaths out of the 50 recorded, in the infant mortality list, followed by pneumonia, with 6.