H.—3l.

THE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OP DEATH. The following table gives the main causes of deaths during the year in their order of magnitude and the actual number of deaths therefrom, also the death-rates per 10,000 of mean population for each of the last five years : —

The very low general death-rate of 7-98 per 1,000 of mean population is a very gratifying result. The figure is so low as to surprise eminent statisticians. Review of the above quinquennial table of death-rates reveals that in respect of nearly all causes there is either an improving or stationary tendency. Since 1929 the general death-rate has dropped from 8-75 to 7-98 per 1,000 of mean population. Infectious Disease. —Definitely, review of the above tables show that freedom from virulent attacks of infectious diseases has been the principal factor contributing to the reduction of the Dominion's general death-rate in the last five years. Some of these, such as diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, and whooping-cough, have a cyclical epidemic tendency at intervals of several years. During the past fifty years, although epidemics of these four diseases have occurred with regular frequency, there has been a remarkable reduction throughout that period in mortality from these causes, and during the past five years that reduction has been maintained. There has been a similar reduction in mortality from typhoid fever, diarrhoea and enteritis, and pulmonary diseases of an infectious nature, including tuberculosis. Less can be said concerning influenza if we include the pandemic of 1918-19 as ordinary influenza, or do not attribute its then exalted virulence to world-war factors. Since 1919 we have experienced epidemics of influenza with severe, but not serious, effect. Preparedness at all times to deal with a local outbreak of this disease is, of course, necessary. There has been no serious epidemic of infantile paralysis since 1925, but many mild cases of this disease presenting systemic symptoms, but little actual paralysis, occurred throughout the Dominion in 1932. During the last five years sporadic examples and a few grouped cases of encephalitis lethargica have occurred, but the incidence rate in general has been low. Violence (823).- —The death-rate from violence reached its peak in 1931. On analysis by the Government Statistician this was found to be mainly attributable to motor-car accidents. In the two succeeding years it has dropped considerably. In 1932, deaths from suicide increased to

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1933. 1932. 1931. 1930. 1929. Cause. Number. Rate. Rate. Rate. Rate. Rate. i i Heart-disease (all forms) .. .. .. 3.098 21-12 20-15 19-50 20-33 18-00 Cancer .. .. .. .. .. 1,624 11-07 10-11 10-33 10-19 10-43 Violence .. .. .. .. .. 823 5-61 6-37 8-06 6-86 6-79 Chest-disease (total) .. .. .. .. 649 4-42 5-23 5-88 7-03 8-57 Pneumonia.. .. .. .. .. 242 1-65 1-91 2-26 3-01 3-30 Pneumonia, secondary to influenza, whooping- 50 0-34 0-35 0-96 0-61 1-26 cough, and measles Bronchitis.. .. .. .. .. 177 1-21 1-42 1-40 1-88 2-23 Broncho-pneumonia .. .. 180 1-23 1-55 1-25 1-53 1-78 Tuberculosis (all forms) .. .. .. 611 4-16 4-22 4-27 4-55 4-56 Kidney or Bright's disease .. .. .. 561 3-82 3-98 4-01 3-98 3-82 Apoplexy or cerebral haemorrhage .. .. 517 3-52 4-20 4-39 4-62 4-51 Diseases of the arteries .. .. .. 411 2-80 3-05 2-91 3-03 3-04 Senility .. .. .. .. .. 337 2-30 3-01 2-96 2-93 3-68 Diabetes .. .. .. .. .. 229 1-56 1-57 1-57 1-56 1-43 Hernia and intestinal obstruction .. .. Ill 0-76 0-65 0-58 0-67 0-76 Diseases and accidents of child-birth (maternal 108 0-74 0-69 0-88 | 0-95 0-92 mortality) Appendicitis .. .. .. .. .. 108 0-74 0-69 0-73 0-69 0-71 Diarrhoea and enteritis .. .. .. 60 0-41 0-47 0-51 0-54 0-58 Epilepsy .. .. .. .. .. 33 0-22 0-28 0-38 0-39 0-33 Common Infectious Diseases. Influenza (all forms, including pneumonia) .. 103 0-71 0-46 1-53 0-92 2-11 Diphtheria .. .. .. .. .. 27 0-18 0-27 0-38 0-41 0-65 Whooping-cough .. .. .. .. 18 0-12 0-30 0-25 0-23 0-12 Scarlet fever .. .. .. .. .. 4 0-03 0-04 0-08 0-11 0-19 Typhoid .. .. .. .. .. 5 0-04 0-05 0-06 0-05 0-16 Measles .. .. .. .. .. 17 0-12 .. .. 0-01 0-01 Infant-mortality. Infant deaths under one year, all causes .. 769 5-24 5-34 5-92 6-48 6-48