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81
It will be observed that the death-rate among illegitimate children
is very high. In calculating this rate, only those infants definitely
known to be illegitimate have been deemed to be such. All foundlings
and babies found dead have been counted as legitimate. For the year
under review the births of illegitimate infants represented a rate of
56 per 1,000 births, or, broadly speaking, one in every eighteen.
If the death rate among Hampstead illegitimate infants had only
been as low as that of legitimate infants, our infant mortality would
have been even lower than it is. Though the actual number saved would
have been small, it should be remembered that the high mortality among
illegitimate infants (which is understated rather than overstated) is
occurring all over the country. The ultim ite total loss of life to the
community is very much greater than appears.
In the great majority of instances the illegitimate children have less
maternal care than the children born in wedlock, and something to
compensate for such maternal lack seems eminently necessary if the
terribly high infantile mortality among illegitimate children is to be
reduced.
Although there appears nothing that can completely compensate
for the absence of maternal care it is evident that lack of such care is
a very important factor in the high mortality among illegitimate
babies, and this care of the illegitimate child is a matter calling for
serious consideration, for it is necessary that every healthy life should
be conserved and no unsympathetic consideration should be tolerated
because of the bar sinister.
The following table shows the percentage of infant deaths occurring
under one month of age, calculated on the total number of infants dying
before completing one year : —