TUBERCULOSIS IX AUSTRALIA. OOO 



'Of a total of 1^06 deaths during 1907, i were under 5 years and 



9 were under 15 years, so that the incidence on the very young 

 population is extremely low. At the present time in England and 

 Wales males suffer more than females to the extent of some 4 deaths 

 l)er 10,000 {vide Bulstrode, loc. cit. p. 43). In Australia the male 

 rate exceeds the female by r2 per 10,000. Table TV. shows the average 

 figures for 10 years, 1897-1906, representing the percentage of deaths 

 from phtliisis in each age-group of the total deaths from all causes 

 in the respective groups. In each five-yearly age-group between 

 25-45, one death in every seven or eight is caused by phthisis. Fig-ure 

 5 and the accompanying table show the progress during eleven years, 

 1897-1907, of the male and female death-rates per 10,000 of popula- 

 tion. The male rate has advanced slightly; the female rate has 

 remained stationary since 1893. 



Monthly Distribution of Deaths in various States. — Table V. 

 .shows the monthly distribution of deaths in mean numbers for the 

 States and years specified. August seems to be the most prominent 

 month, with September as the next in order. These two months 

 represent the close of winter and the beginning of spring, which may 

 account for tlie fact that more deaths are to be placed to their credit 

 than to that of other months. 



An important point in the question of phthisis in Australia is a 

 determination of how much of the phthisis is of local production, and 

 how nmch is imported, so to speak, for local consumption. Considera- 

 tion of the data supplied from the other States reveals a want of 

 uniformity w^hich makes such a determination veiy difficult. For 

 Victoria and South Australia no figures are available. In Queens- 

 land, of a total of 4,539 deaths from phthisis during 11 years, 1893 

 and 1898-1907, 27'6 per cent, were of people born in Australia or 

 New Zealand, and 72'4 per cent, born elsewhere. In New South 

 V\ ales, of 11,974 deatlis of persons Avhose birthplace was ascertained 

 and recorded during the same 11 years, a minimum of 50'8 per cent, 

 were Australian born (129 others were not stated). Further, during 



10 years, 1893, 1898-1906,* of 11,126 from phthisis, in which the 

 Inrthplace was stated, 48 "8 per cent, w-ere born in New South Wales 

 (another 116 were "not stated"). 



In West Au.stralia, during 5 years, 1903-1907, 126 per cant, 

 were born in West Australia out of a, total of 923 deaths. 



The above data represent all that can be gathered as to the 

 incidence of phthisis on the Australian-born or the immigrant sections 

 of the community. It is obvious that it is not even possible to say 

 how many deaths throughout Australia occur in the Australian-born 

 portion of the population. It may provisionally be said, perhaps, 

 that, taking the New South AVales figures as a basis, 50-55 per cent, 

 of phthisis are among Australian-born. In "Western AustraHa, how- 

 ever, the length of residence witliin the State expressed in years prior 

 to death has been talmlated since 1903, and tliis information is 

 available. 



It is seen from Table VI. that 73-02 per cent, of the total number 

 of deaths from phthisis during the years 1903-7 were of persons born 



* After 1!|06 deaths are recorded as " Australian born "—prior to that "as born in 

 rsew South Wales." 



