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These figures are, as a whole, comparatively satisfactory. There
is a decline under most of the headings as compared with 1899, as
there is also a decline of about 50 in the total number of deaths.
The high death-rate due to Diarrhœa always raises the number of
deaths in the third quarter of the year. Out of the total of 296 infant
deaths, 73 occurred in the first quarter; 61 in the second; 100 in the
third (40 in August alone) and 62 in the fourth quarter. As a general
rule it may be said that old age fatality occurs mostly in the winter
half of the year, and infant mortality is highest in the summer
half. Prematurity and malnutrition as causes of infant mortality
are nearly twice as high in towns as in rural districts. There has
been a considerable decline in deaths due to prematurity during
the year. "Convulsions" is really more a symptom than a disease,
and is a condition brought about by the irritation of dentition,
improper food, parasites, etc. It is matter for regret, that 19 lives
have been sacrificed to carelessness of parents overlaying their
children in bed. I find that in Clerkenwell 14 of these fatalities
occurred between Saturday and Monday nights. In London as a
whole 608 children were so killed during 1900.
SENILE MORTALITY.

Ninety-seven of these were men and 126 were women.