H.—3l.

Table No. 4— Diphtheria —continued.

The total, 96 cases, is about the same as last year, in which there were 95 cases. It is probable that a large number of the cases notified are not true cases of diphtheria : the medical practitioners often notify cases, quite rightly, which they suspect may be diphtheria, but which would probably turn out not to be diphtheria in a large number of cases, if a bacteriological examination was always made. Epidemics in Schools. Two applications were received from the Otago Education Board for the certificate of the District Health Officer that 10 per cent, of the children were affected by an infectious disease, and both applications were granted. Mortality. The following notifications were received at this office : Enteric fever, B—Christchurch, 1 ; Ashburton, 3 ; Cheviot, 1 ; Timaru, 3. Diphtheria, 3—Christchurch, 2 ; Timaru, 1. Scarlet fever, 12— Christchurch, 1 ; Timaru, 4 ; Waimate, 5 ; Oamaru, 2. Measles, 3—Christchurch, 1 ; Oamaru, 1 Timaru, 1. Tuberculosis, 148—Christchurch, 77. Leprosy. In September a third case of leprosy was sent to Quail Island. The patient was a Maori, a male adult from the North Island. A third cottage was erected for his accommodation, at a cost of about £100, in the neighbourhood of the other buildings in which the other two lepers had been accommodated. In September the other Maori who had been sent to Quail Island last year was released. Tuberculosis. Eighty-six notifications of tuberculosis were received during the year, as compared with 83 last year. 148 notifications of death were received from the Registrars in the district, as compared with 105 last year. Of these, 77 deaths occurred in Christchurch and district, as compared with 52 deaths in 1907, and 28 in 1906. Ido not think much importance can be attached to the increased number of deaths in Christchurch, as it is probably only a coincidence, and the average of the number of years will probably remain the same. According to the returns of the Registrar-General, there were 179 deaths from tuberculosis in the Canterbury Provincial District for the year ending 1907. As this does not include the Counties of Amuri, Cheviot, Kaikoura, and Waitaki, the inclusion of which would probably bring the number up to about 200, it seems certain that some of the Registrars are not carrying out their duties in notifying the Health Department of deaths from tuberculosis. Otago and Southland Districts. The following table shows the evidence of infectious disease in the principal boroughs and counties : —

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Apl. May., une. July/ Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Totals Rangiora ... Oxford Kaiapoi Templeton . Leeston Little River Methven Ashburton ... Tinwald Winchester Geraldine ... Orari Temuka Levels County Timaru Waimate ... Otaio 3 1 "l 1 1 1 1 1 1 ... 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 5 2 10 1 1 1 1 1 i "l 2 "i l i i 4 1 2 1 l' 1 i 1 Oamaru Hakataramea Viewfield ... i 1 Totals... 12 16 9 8 16 12 7 6 4 4 5 7 96 Totals in Christchurch and district 4 5 1 3 3 5 4 2 2 2 1 6 38