1266
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 55

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 each of the four centres.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88
and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·84
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·64
and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·59
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·97
and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·83
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·76

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

Compared with April, 1900, the results are,—

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Of 18 deaths at the four centres in April, 9 were from diarrhoea: 7 of these occurred at Auckland and 2 at Christchurch. Diphtheria caused 3 deaths—1 at Wellington, 1 at Christchurch, and 1 at Dunedin. Influenza was fatal at Wellington (1 death), and similarly at Christchurch. Enteric fever and chicken-pox caused 1 death each, at Christchurch.

Constitutional Diseases.—The mortality for April was heavy, amounting to 38 deaths. 20 resulted from tubercular diseases, 12 from cancer, 2 from rheumatic fever, and 4 from diabetes.

Local Diseases.—Of 61 deaths, 15 were from nervous diseases, 14 from diseases of the organs of circulation, 12 of the respiratory system, 14 of the digestive, 1 of the lymphatic, and 5 of the urinary system.

Violent Deaths.—These numbered 5—4 accidental and 1 suicidal. At Auckland a man died from internal injuries received while riding, and another from tetanus. At Christchurch a child was smothered accidentally, and an adult died from misadventure (with chloroform).

The suicide was that of an adult male who threw himself from a bridge at Auckland.

The subjoined table shows the mortality for the last two months at each of the four centres from six principal specific febrile or zymotic diseases, and also the deaths from certain inflammatory diseases of the lungs. These causes of death have been distinguished from the others of the classes to which they belong as being the most important special diseases which give rise to sudden increases in the death-rates of towns, and the prevalence of which is closely connected with sanitary condition and climatic influence of the season on health.

| Towns. | SIX PRINCIPAL SPECIFIC FEBRILE OR ZYMOTIC DISEASES. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PRINCIPAL LUNG-DISEASES. | | | | | | | |
|--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Measles. | Scarlet Fever. | Typhoid and other Fever. | Diphtheria. | Whooping-cough. | Diarrheal Diseases. | Bronchitis. | Pleurisy. | Pneumonia. | Congestion of Lungs. |
| | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. | Apl. | Mar. |
| Auckland and suburban boroughs | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 2 | .. | .. |
| Wellington and suburban boroughs | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 1 | 2 | .. | .. | .. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .. | 1 | 3 | .. | .. |
| Christchurch and suburban boroughs | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 2 | 2 | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 1 | 2 | .. | .. |
| Dunedin and suburban boroughs | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3 | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 1 | 1 | .. | .. |
| Totals | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | .. | 1 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | .. | .. |