Z PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF MORTALITY IN QUEENSLAND 



As an example of the errors and exaggerations that creep 

 in through these disturbing elements not being allowed for we 

 may consider the year 1884. In this year there was a heavy 

 mortality amongst the Pacific Island population, and the 

 returns over the whole population showed the death rate per 

 1000 living as 22-3, while, the Polynesians being left out from 

 both living and dying, we get 17*2 as the death rate for the 

 year. And in regard to the particular disease phthisis to which 

 the islanders are specially prone, the ratios work out for that 

 year as 19 per 10,000 living, with the Polynesians included, 

 and only 10 per 10,000 with them excluded, a difference of 

 nearly 100 per cent. Further, as showing the possible error 

 when age and sex are not allowed for, the Queensland total male 

 ratios in deaths from cancer are for 1899 greater than for 

 females, viz. : — 5-3 as against 4-1 per 10,000 living ; while, 

 due regard being had for the greater proportion of males in the 

 cancer ages the correct result of a higher death rate for 

 females is arrived at, as will appear later on. The comparative 

 mortality of a country is becoming of more practical importance 

 as the best energies of our governments are being given to the 

 prevention of disease. Not so very many years ago preventive 

 medicine was scarcely heard of, now it appears to be a special 

 branch of medical practice. So many diseases are now 

 recognised under the heading of bacterial, and baccerial 

 necessarily implies more or less preveutible, that there is no 

 lack of work for this branch of medicine. By observing the 

 progress of the various diseases over a term of years we can see 

 what success has been met with, and learn by the results of the 

 past what, if any, modifications are necessary as regards future 

 operations. 



My authorities for the figures given in this paper are, as 

 regards the general mortality, the very complete reports issued by 

 the Registrars-General for England and Queensland. As 

 regards the causes of death of Polynesians, they are given 

 separately by our Registrar-General for phthisis and other 

 tubercular diseases, the other causes of death 1 obtained from 

 the records of the Immigration Office. 



For the purpose of working out the ratios, I took the living 

 to be the mean of those alive at the beginning and end of each 

 quinquennium, which, though not absolutely exact, it is usual to 

 take in comparisons of this nature, and the numbers alive at 

 each age are proportional to the figures shown at the nearest 

 census. I have had to modify this arrangement in comparisons 



