A.—3

24

Vital Statistics for the Year 1914.

H. H. G. Ralph, Rarotonga, 7th June, 1915. Registrar.

Report of Acting Chief Medical Officer on the Medical Work in the Island of Rarotonga FROM THE 25TH DECEMBER, 1914, TO THE 7TH APRIL, 1915. Cook Islands Hospital, 7th April, 1915. These months, during which I acted for Dr. Baldwin as Medical Officer to the Cook Islands Administration, comprise the " hot season," and I am given to understand that this year has been unusually hot and free from winds. The health of the Native population cannot be considered entirely satisfactory. Though free from many of the diseases that afflict tropical countries, such as malaria, severe dysentery, &c, and though a large number of diseases of a serious and fatal description common all over the world seem practically unknown here, still it cannot be denied that the outlook as regards the future of the Native race is far from reassuring. I refer to the frequency among the Natives of syphilis and tuberculosis. The former disease is a frequent cause of sterility and premature birth, while the children that are born at full term are often destined to die before they reach maturity. The latter disease is far too prevalent, and, as is well known, is very liable to be transmitted to descendants. With these two sinister exceptions the list of diseases treated at the Hospital is not a formidable one, from the public health point of view. The attendances at the out-patient department during this period number 2,029. The cases consist of minor complaints —minor operations, such as incising abscesses, tooth-extraction, and the like. Among this number is a fair proportion of white patients. The number is a high one, no doubt due to the unhealthy season of the year, which would make minor complaints very prevalent. fl The number of in-patients admitted amounts to seventy-nine. Of these, fifty-seven have been discharged more or less improved ; three have died in the Hospital ; five have been taken away to die.

Island and Village. I Births. Deaths. Marriagea. Rarotonga— Avarua Arorangi Titikaveka Ngatangiia Matavera 79 22 11 18 11 63 10 10 14 9 18 2 4 5 3 Totals 141 106 32 Aitutaki — Arutanga ") Reureu [> . . Nikaupara J Amuri Vaipae Tautu 20 15 7 17 8 4 14 6 8 2 4 2 Totals 49 43 15 Mangaia— Oneroa Tamarua Ivirua 34 5 9 43 7 21 6 3 4 Totals 48 71 13 Pemhyn 12 16 Pukapuka 16 11 Manihiki 12 9 Rakahanga 7 Atiu 38 34 8 Mauke (return not to hand) . . Grand totals 317 300 97 * Four still-born.