660
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 24

CAUSES OF DEATH.

CLASS VI.—LOCAL DISEASES—continued.
ORDER 7:—
Diseases of Urinary System,—
Bright’s Disease .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 2 .. .. 3
Cystitis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1

ORDER 8:—
Diseases of Reproductive System,—
Pelvic Abscess .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1
Phlegmasia Dolens .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1

ORDER 10:—
Diseases of Integumentary System,—
Cellulitis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1

CLASS VII.—VIOLENCE.
ORDER 1:—
Accident or Negligence,—
Run over by Vehicle .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1
Injury to Thigh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Scalds .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1
Drowned .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 2

ORDER 2:—
Homicide,—
Manslaughter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1

CLASS VIII. — ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES.
Marasmus, &c. .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 2 .. .. 4
Gangrene .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Abscesses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Totals .. .. .. 19 25 9 20 17 28 9 29 156

In the first table are given the deaths and death-rates for each of the four cities, for the suburban boroughs severally, and for each city with its suburban towns. As regards Auckland and Christchurch, the whole of the area usually recognised as suburban has not yet been brought under municipal government, and the vital statistics do not deal with such portions as still remain in road districts. But the omission is not very important, for there are in either case quite enough suburbs included within borough boundaries to give a fair idea of the death-rate of Greater Auckland and Greater Christchurch. As further boroughs are formed the vital statistics will be made to include them.

The inclusion of the suburban boroughs tends to lower the rate at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, but raises it at Christchurch.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·99
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·84
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·63
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·61
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·81
" and four suburban boroughs.. .. .. 0·99
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·85
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·76

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the highest, and at Wellington the lowest. Compared with February, 1899, the results are,—

February, 1899. February, 1900.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 1·18 0·84
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·72 0·61
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 1·53 0·99
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·77 0·76

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The deaths from these diseases numbered 29 in February, against 31 in the preceding month. Influenza caused 7 deaths—2 in Wellington, 3 in Christchurch, and 2 in Dunedin. Whooping-cough was fatal in 3 cases, all at Christchurch; and there was 1 death from typhoid fever at Auckland. Diarrhoeal diseases were fatal in 16 cases—7 at Auckland, 4 at Wellington, 3 at Christchurch, and 2 at Dunedin.

Parasitic Diseases.—One death from hydatids was recorded at Dunedin.

Dietetic Diseases.—There were 3 deaths in this class—2 from alcoholism at Dunedin, and 1 child from malnutrition at Wellington.

Constitutional Diseases.—Deaths from constitutional diseases decreased from 47 in January to 22 in February; 12 of the latter were due to phthisis and other forms of tuberculosis, 9 to cancer, and 1 to diabetes.

Developmental Diseases.—Of the 14 deaths in this class, 8 were from old age, and 6 from premature birth, malformation, &c.

Local Diseases.—Diseases in this class accounted for 75 deaths; and of these, 15 were due to nervous diseases, 21 to heart-disease and other diseases of the circulatory system; 13 were from bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy (1 at Auckland, 3 at Wellington, 7 at Christchurch, and 2 at Dunedin); and 18 were set down to diseases of the digestive system. The other deaths in this class were caused by diseases of the lymphatic system (1), of the urinary system (4), of the reproductive system (2), and of the integumentary system (1).

Violence.—There were only 6 deaths in this class, 5 of which were accidental, and 1 was classed as homicidal. In Auckland a woman was killed by a vehicle passing over her, and a boilermaker died from injuries by scalding. A shipping agent was found drowned at Wellington; while in Dunedin a mill-hand was accidentally drowned, and the death of a boy of fourteen years was, according to the verdict of a jury, due to manslaughter.