STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

107.50

REMARKS.-There have been reported in the Monthly bulletin during the year 120,972 deaths; this is 3,894 more than in 1897, which was a year of unusually low mor-
tality, and is about the average of seven preceding years. The delayed returns, not reported in the Bulletin, numbered 733, making the death rate per thousand popula
tion 18.10, the average of the past 10 years being 18.25. The death rate of the Maritime district was 20.00 against 18.90 in 1897, there having been about 3500 more deaths;
of the other districts there is no material variance from the rate of last year. Last year the saving in mortality was in the metropolis.

The infant morality (under five years) was greater by 2300 than in 1897, though relatively decreased, constituting 30.2 per cent of the total, against 32.5 last year, and
an average of 33.5. The zymotic mortality constituted 13.6 per cent of the total, against 14.0 last year, and an average of 17.5. The decrease is confined to the urban
communities, some of the rural districts showing a relative increase over last year.

Among zymotic diseases there was an increase in the mortality from cerebro-spinal meningitis in all but the Central districts; in typhoid fever in all parts of the state including the metropolis, amounting to about 450 deaths; in whooping-cough by 300 deaths, the increase being limited to the Eastern districts; and an increase (by 1500) in diarrheal mortality from last year, though not beyond the average. Diphtheria caused 2620 deaths, the fewest of any year on record, being less by 1500 than in 1897 and less than half the average yearly mortality from this cause. Consumption caused 13,000 deaths, which is with slight variation the mortality of every year. There were 2500 deaths from grippe, which is less than the mortality of either of the eight preceding annual epidemics. Acute respiratory diseases had the average rate of mortality, that of other local diseases showed a moderate increase. The mean average temperature for the year was 48.5 degrees or 1 degree above the normal, and the total rainfall (average of state) 44.5 inches, or 4 inches above the normal.

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