HH62/45/359

Transcription

[Page] 12

Cancer and Malignant Diseases caused 62 deaths, or 6.2 per cent. of the total, as
compared with 51 in 1896. These deaths were distributed amongst the five Districts
as follows:- Perth, 18; Central, 15; Highland, 14; Western, 4; Eastern, 11.
Old Age was the cause of death in 174 instances, or 17.4 per cent. of the total,
as compared with 146 in 1896.
Developmental Diseases caused 40 deaths during 1897 as compared with 50 in
1896. Of these 40 deaths, 24 were ascribed to premature birth.
Violence caused 44 deaths during 1897, as compared with 26 in 1896. These
deaths were thus distributed:- Perth District, 11; Central District, 11; Highland
District, 5; Western District, 8; Eastern District, 9.
Zymotic Diseases caused 61 deaths during 1897, as compared with 43 in 1896.
The notified number of illnesses due to these diseases during 1897 was 377, as
compared with 449 in 1896, thus showing a reduction in their number of 72. The
number of patients suffering from infectious disease who received Hospital treatment
during 1897 was 118, as compared with 100 in 1896.
Scarlet Fever caused 11 deaths during 1897, as compared with 5 in 1896, and
as there were fewer cases during the former year, the case mortality was much
higher, being 4.7 per cent. There were many outbreaks during the past year,
but the efforts of the Department were happily able to prevent any great spread of
the disease. One of the most severe outbreaks occurred at Aberfoyle, where the
disease had existed for some considerable time in two large families ere its nature was
recognized. In some of the outbreaks there was almost conclusive evidence that the
infection had been carried to outlying districts by tramps. That the type of Scarlet
Fever has become more severe is not altogether to be regretted, as country people were
beginning to think the disease so trifling that the efforts of the Department to check
it did not meet with the support expected. During the past year 232 cases of Scarlet
Fever were notified, of whom 39.6 per cent. were removed to Hospital, as compared
with 263 and 23.5 per cent. in 1896.
Diphtheria caused 4 deaths during 1897, as compared with the same number in
1896. There were 36 cases of the disease notified during 1897, as compared with 67
in 1896. As this is one of the diseases which, by their absence or presence, indicate
whether the sanitary condition of the surroundings of the people are satisfactory or
otherwise, it is gratifying to see such a marked reduction in the number of cases. Of
the 36 cases, 36.1 per cent. were removed to Hospital.
Enteric Fever caused 9 deaths during 1897, as compared with the same numerb [number]
in 1896. During 1897, 43 cases of the disease were notified, as compared with 58 in
1896. The majority of the cases were sporadic, and were probably attributable to
insanitary conditions which were rectified as soon as possible. Of the Enteric Fever
patients, 30.2 per cent. were removed to Hospital.
The following table and diagram show at a glance the incidence of sickness from
Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, and Enteric Fever during the year in the five Districts:-

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