1642
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 56

CAUSES OF DEATH.

CLASS VI.—LOCAL DISEASES—contd.
ORDER 6:—
Diseases of the Lymphatic System,—
Lymphadenoma .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
ORDER 7:—
Diseases of Urinary System,—
Nephritis .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1
Pyelitis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1
Bright’s Disease .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. 3 5
Cystitis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
ORDER 8:—
Diseases of Reproductive System,—
Ovarian Cyst .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1
Childbirth .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1

CLASS VII.—VIOLENCE.
ORDER 1:—
Accident or Negligence,—
Fracture of Skull .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. 1 2
Injury to Chest .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1
Fall from Building .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1
Fall of Tree .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Scalds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. 1
Drowned .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1
Asphyxia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1
Birth Accident .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
ORDER 3:—
Suicide,—
By Cutting Throat .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1

CLASS VIII. — ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES.
Marasmus, &c. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 2 .. 5 .. 8
Totals .. .. .. 6 26 12 34 12 31 13 39 173

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 Wellington, but raises it at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·56
and five suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. 0·57
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88
and two suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·86
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·82
and one suburban borough .. .. .. .. .. 0·83
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·83
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·92

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

Compared with May, 1903, the results are,—

1903. 1904. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·90 0·57
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·86 0·86
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·85 0·83
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·92 0·92

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The mortality at the four chief centres, with their suburbs, from this class of disease during the month of May was very low, consisting of 12 deaths, or a proportion of 6·94 per cent. of the deaths from all causes. Among these deaths is found 1 at Auckland from bubonic plague, 2 at Dunedin from influenza, 2 at Christchurch from diphtheria, and 1 at Auckland from enteric fever. Deaths from diarrhoeal diseases numbered 3—2 at Wellington and 1 at Dunedin. From puerperal septicaemia there was 1 death, another from erysipelas, and 1 from specific disease.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 36 deaths, 17 were from phthisis, 5 from other tubercular diseases, 9 from cancer, 3 from anaemia, 1 from diabetes, and 1 from rickets.

Local Diseases.—Out of a total number of 82 deaths, 18 were from diseases of the nervous system, including 4 from paralysis and 7 from apoplexy. There were 19 deaths from diseases of the circulatory system (heart-disease, &c.), 17 of the respiratory (pleurisy, pneumonia, bronchitis), 17 of the digestive, 1 of the lymphatic, 8 of the urinary (5 Bright’s), and 2 of the reproductive systems.

Violent Deaths.—Nine were accidental and 1 suicidal. Of deaths by accident or negligence, 2 were from fracture, 1 from fall, 1 from a falling tree, and 1 from injury to chest. One death resulted from scalding, 1 from drowning, 1 from asphyxia, and 1 from birth accident. The suicide was by cutting throat.