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deaths.
It has to be borne in mind that the measure of notification is based throughout on local
notification and registration. No information is available as to the proportion of births in
outlying areas—being those of children of residents of the Borough—which are notified. It
is much to be desired that a complete system of transfer of notifications should be initiated.
Such reform cannot be effected until the form of notification includes a statement of the
parents' permanent address as well as the address at which the birth took place. In this
connexion the figures relating to births in institutions are of some interest.
Still-Births. During the years 1914-18 332 children were notified as dead at birth, equal
to 3.0 per cent. of the total births (11,146) notified. In 1919 the proportion fell to 2-8 per
cent. (2,193 births notified including 52 still-births) but rose to 3T per cent. in 1920 when the
total of 3,223 births included 100 still-births. The proportion of still-births among illegitimates
has been from two to nearly three times that among legitimates. (See below).

The foregoing figures cannot be taken as a complete record of still-births inasmuch as
they do not include still-births notified in outlying areas which ought to be, but are not, transferred
to the Borough, and, moreover, it is impossible to determine the frequency of failure to
notify as still-births are not registered. The latter defect could be cured by requiring undertakers
and cemetery authorities to make returns of all burials of still-born children.
As regards the variations in the proportions of still-births in the individual Wards,
the following statement embodies the observed proportions, but the data on which the
percentages are based, are not of a very satisfactory character.

During 1914-18, of 10,814 children who were notified as born alive, 316 (or 2.92 per cent.)
were dead when their births were registered. In the case of illegitimate children (438 notified
born alive) 29 were dead at the time of registration, equal to 9.58 per cent. In 1919 the
percentage for all births was 2.94 and in 1920, 2.91—showing a fairly constant mortality.
Among illegitimates the percentages were, 1919—11.59; 1920—30.

III.—DEATHS.
During the five years 1914-18 the deaths registered within the Borough averaged 2,032
per annum, with a maximum of 2,304 registered in 1915, a total which exceeded that (1,999)
of 1,918—the influenza year—by 305. The difference was mainly due to the fact of the
Infirmary being closed in the latter year. In 1919 the total fell to 1,499 but rose to 1,667 in
1920. (See Table I. Appendix).