138
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 5

CAUSES OF DEATH.

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 and Christchurch, but raises it at Wellington and Dunedin.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·21
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·14
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·39
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·42
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·83
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·65
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·19
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·25

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the lowest, and at Wellington the highest.

Compared with December, 1898, the results are,—

Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1898. 1899.
1·06 1·14
Wellington and suburbs.. .. .. .. .. .. 1·18 1·42
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·82 0·65
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·23 1·25

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—Deaths in this class at the four boroughs and their suburbs again show a considerable increase, the number for December having been 45, against 28 in November, and 12 in October. Influenza is the chief cause of the high mortality during last month, which includes 12 deaths at Dunedin, 8 at Auckland, 5 at Wellington, and 2 at Christchurch, many of these being deaths of aged persons. Measles is noticed at Christchurch, 1 death; whooping-cough at the same town (2 deaths), and also at Wellington, where the deaths numbered 3. Diphtheria was fatal in one case at Auckland and another at Christchurch. The above, with 7 deaths from diarrhoeal diseases, and 3 from other zymotic complaints, form the total mortality in this class.

Parasitic Diseases.—One death occurred from hydatids at Auckland, and another at Wellington.

Dietetic Diseases.—Of 4 deaths, three were attributed to alcoholism.

Constitutional Diseases.—The deaths fell from 46 in November to 39 in December, phthisis showing 21, other tubercular diseases 2, and cancer 12.

Local Diseases.—Of 102 deaths, 22 were the result of diseases of the respiratory organs (bronchitis, pneumonia, and congestion of the lungs); 11 of these deaths are found to have been at Wellington, 5 at Auckland, 5 at Dunedin, and 1 at Christchurch. There were 26 deaths from diseases of the nervous system; 24 of the circulatory system; 21 of the digestive, 2 of the lymphatic, 4 of the urinary, and 3 of the reproductive systems.

Violent Deaths.—These numbered 8, all accidental. A stockowner died at Christchurch from a fracture, and a carpenter from compression of the brain caused by a fall. At Auckland a joiner was killed by falling down stairs, a railway employé was run over by a train; and a boy died of the effects of a blow in the abdomen. Tetanus from injury to the hand was fatal to a clerk at Wellington. A woman died from administration of chloroform at Christchurch (misadventure), and an infant from accident at birth.