PUBLIC HEALTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1020, 7 November 1912, Page 3

PUBLIC HEALTH.

The report of the Public Health Department, presented to Parliament on Tuesday, shows that the birthrate of the Dominion for 1911 was 25.97 P er 1000 > the lowest record since 1902 (25.89). But for the low birthrate recorded in Victoria the year 1911 (24.54), New Zealand would have had the unenviable distinction of the lowest birthrate in Australasia. The deathrate for 1911 was 9.39, slightly lower thau that of the previous year (9.71). The lowest, deathrate recorded iu New Zealand was that for 1896 (9.11). The infantile deathrate, i.e., the total number of deaths under one year per 1000 births was 56.31 — the lowest infantile mortality rate hitherto recorded in the Dominion.

In 1911, 938 persons died from some form or other of tubercular disease, the mortality rate being 7.27 per 10,000, the lowest hitherto recorded. Of these 938 deaths, 536 were due to phthisis, the mortality rate for the latter being 5.28 per 10,000. The decrease in this mortality rate, which was commented ou iu last year’s report, has therefore been maintained. Though this is eminently satisfactory, it is to be hoped that during the ensuing year hospital boards and other public and private authorities will initiate a more vigorous campaign against this disease.

Those who may care to peruse the report will note with concern the gradual increase in the mortality rate from cancer, which was the cause last year of 809 deaths, or a mortality rate of 7.97, the highest hitherto recorded in New Zealand. At one time it was thought that the increase was due to more accurate diagnosis on the part of the prulession, but no longer can this solace be allowed, fhe cause ol cancer and the reasons for its increase are not known, and we can therefore only wait as patiently as we can the reports of the Cancer Research Commission.

A total of 4,786 cases of infectious diseases were notified last year, as against 4,153 in 1910, The chief of these were (a) scarlet fever, 2,366 cases, with only nine deaths ; (b) diphtheria, 268 cases ; (c) enteric fever, 792 cases, with 67 deaths. Special attention is directed to the part the Maori plays in the spread of typhoid fever. The epidemic at Waipu, Ahipara, Te Puke, Ripia, Kawhia, and other places, originated in Native settlements, and the epidemic at Gisborne was largely due to the same source. It is significant that of the 792 mortifications, only 89 were from the South Island.

The hospital expenditure goes on increasing. lu 1909 it was ,£247,123, now it is .£329,513-