188
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 6

CAUSES OF DEATH.

CLASS VI.—LOCAL DISEASES—continued.
ORDER 8:—
Diseases of Reproductive System,—
Fibroid Polypus of Uterus .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Miscarriage .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 2
Parturition .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1

CLASS VII.—VIOLENCE.
ORDER 1:—
Accident or Negligence,—
Dislocation of Hip .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Dragged by Horse .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Run over by Dray .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Run over by Railway-engine .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Poison (Arsenic) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Suffocated .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1

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

CLASS VIII. — ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES.
Marasmus, &c. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. .. 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. 5

Totals .. .. .. .. 18 26 9 16 7 32 8 32 148

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, but raises it at Wellington and Dunedin.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·02
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·84
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·51
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·52
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·86
" and four suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. .. 0·86
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·59
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·80

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

December, 1899. December, 1900.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·14 0·84
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·42 0·52
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·65 0·86
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·25 0·80

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—The mortality in the four chief cities and their suburbs for December, 1900, was limited to 13 deaths, of which 5 were from diarrhoeal diseases—4 at Auckland and 1 at Wellington. Influenza accounts for 4 more deaths—1 at Wellington, 1 at Christchurch, and 2 at Dunedin. Typhoid fever was fatal at Wellington in 1 case, and again at Christchurch, where there was also 1 death. The above, with 1 death from septicaemia at Christchurch, and 1 from diphtheria at Dunedin, complete the total.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 29 deaths, 14 were attributable to phthisis and 7 to cancer. Tubercular peritonitis, with tubercular meningitis and general tuberculosis, contributed 5 deaths. The remaining 3 deaths were from purpura, anaemia, and rheumatic gout.

Local Diseases.—The total of deaths at the four centres in this class was 70 for December. Diseases of the nervous system caused 15 deaths; of the circulatory, 24; of the respiratory, 12; of the digestive, 9; of the urinary, 6; and of the reproductive system, 4 deaths.

Violent Deaths.—Of a total of 7 deaths, 6 were accidental and 1 homicidal. All the accidental deaths took place at Christchurch. An aged woman was killed by shock following on a dislocation; a labourer was dragged by his horse till he died; a carter run over by a dray, a wool-classer by a railway-engine; a girl was accidentally poisoned by arsenic; and an infant was suffocated. The homicidal death was that of a child murdered by his father at Auckland.