H.—3l.

Puerperal Septicemia. The following table shows the course of this disease for the quinquennium 1917-21 : —

Puerperal Septicæmia in New Zealand, 1917-21.

It is well known that the returns of notifications in puerperal septicaemia arc, as a general rule, far from complete. The marked rise, in the notification-rate or 1921, therefore, docs not necessarily indicate an increased prevalence of the disease for this year, but represents rather an increased observance of the laws regarding notification. The returns of deaths provide a more accurate presentation o the position. The fact that 1921 had the lowest death-rate of tho series is so far satisfactory. The whole subject of maternal mortality in New Zealand was investigated during the year by the Board of Health. A special committee of the Board was set up, and made certain recommendations, the adoption of which may be expected, to reduce the incidence of a disease that can only be regarded as largely, it not wholly, preventable. Erysipelas. The information available for this disease shows that there was a marked increase in prevalence during the year under review, 228 eases being reported in 1921, as against 156 cases in 1920 and 73 in 1919." Influenza. One of the, brightest features of the year under review was tho low level of influenza. The figures for the severer types of this disease, (the pneumonic, septiciomio, and fulminant varieties) wore 295 notifications and 105 deaths in 1921, as compared with 470 notifications and 180 deaths in 1920. Acute Primary Pneumonia. This also was much less prevalent than in 1920, the first complete year for which figures are available, in 1921 .1,029 eases were notified, as compared with ,1,933 eases in the previous year. Leprosy. Two cases of this disease, both Chinese, were notified during 1921, and were duly removed to the hospital on Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour. At the close of the year there were in this institution a total of eight, patients, all adult males. Of these the nationality was as follows : Throe whites (none New-Zealand-born), two Maoris, one half-caste Samoan, and two Chinese. Recent important advances have been made in the treatment of leprosy, whereby, it is stated, a substantial percentage of apparent cures has been effected. The Americans particularly claim good results from the use of the ethyl esters prepared from the fatty acids of chaulmoogra oil. Through the courtesy of the Consul-General for the United States of America, a supply of this preparation wa obtained from Honolulu, where the original work has been carried out, and a commencement has been made of its use. Fuller information concerning the. distribution of the above diseases, together with details of the remaining notifiable diseases, is contained in the subjoined tables.

Table A. —Notifiable Diseases in New Zealand, 1921 showing Distribution by Months.

10

Year. Notii loations. Di laths. Number. Rate per 1,000 Live Births. Number. Hate per 1,000 Live Births. 1917 19.18 1919 1920 1921 62 76 79 124 178 2-19 2-94 3-23 4-14 6-23 59 48 52 67 48 2-09 1-86 2-12 2-22 1-68

I o t> 0) rH CD o o5 .£- g .a s m a 6 a o o Ph . u .55 cj — 1 'I § P-p, rH •a .§8.2 i alls sits a 1 li 4 I r* ft .8 ■ id a -r ft B -S a 3 3 J || 5w 3 -1 i S o cn O •r-> a 9 2 :-. «l r- « g a, > "2 -ii i?i£ Jan. Feb. Mar. April May .June .July Au,»-. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dee. 00. 107 124 100 380 194 191 203 188 101 157! 117 120 154 204 235 291 294 290 224 234 204 184 171 27 50 47 45 34 21 42 50 19 32 41 37 100 100 105 85 96 80 94 120 96 112 113 100 9 5 5 0 o 3 7 8 3 3 3 2 40 84 60 20 1.2 3 0 3 9 10 7 4 7 0 5 18 14 34 33 18 Hi Hi 7 14 2 -1 9 15 20 49 85 30 22 26 (i5 43 48 43 80 90 106 140 139 73 95 95 18 13 20 48 101 9.1 89 153 153 160 ' 209 154 5 10 15 10 18 22 31 28 27 23 19 20 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 2 7 4 2 '2 6 3 2 2 3 1 I 1 3 3 2 1 3 2 1 i 1 1 482 002 646 074 845 .852 908 1,034 988 844 882 758 2 1 4 4 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 I ! 1 1 i 2 Totals .. I,,SI 5 2,611 ■151 1,207 50 207 I 78 295 1,029 1,209 228 21 12 30 23 2 35 2 2 1 2 2 9,515 -