SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS-SECOND QUARTER OF 1915.

1,125 lives were saved during the second quarter of 1915 that would have been lost had the average death rate for the second quarter for the past five years prevailed.

This saving of life was accomplished through the reduction of the mortality from typhoid fever, malaria, scarlet fever, diphtheria, pulmonary tuberculosis, diarrhoeal diseases under five years, and violence, all of which showed marked reductions.

The deaths from organic heart disease were more numerous during the second quarter of 1915, but this increase was counterbalanced by a decrease in deaths from chronic Bright's disease. Considered together, these causes showed a decrease of 2 deaths.

Measles, whooping cough and influenza and their most frequent complications, broncho and lobar pneumonia, showed an increase of 469 deaths.

Of the deaths from violence, suicide was the only heading under which an increase appeared.

Deaths from cancer were more numerous during the last quarter; the death toll from this cause being 38 deaths more than was the average for the corresponding period for the past five years.

To the following causes were credited the greatest number of deaths:

3,895 children died during the first year of life. Of this number, 1,186 deaths were due to congenital debility and malformations, a strong argument, were one needed, for concerted prenatal work.

Despite the prevalence of measles and whooping cough, the lives of 612 children under five years of age were saved.

137.

The number of deaths over sixty-five years of age showed an increase of