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58
[1911
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
1,033 deaths were registered among the 8,113 births which were entered
in the returns, so that the death-rate among infants was equal to 127 per 1,000
of the births, which is the highest rate known since 1904, when it was 128. It
also compares with 136, the average rate for the preceding twenty-five years,
which is a decrease of only 3.4 per cent. It contrasts also with an average
death-rate of 143 which obtained in the seventy years 1841-1910, on which it
shows a decrease of only 11.2 per cent. These reductions are not much to be
proud of considering that the general death-rate last year was just 10 5 per cent.
below the mean rate for the twenty-five years, and 25.0 per cent below that for
seventy years, during all of which, with slight variations, the death-rate from
all causes was steadily improving, while the infantile mortality rate remained
practically stationary.
Death-rates from Infant deaths per
all causes. 1,000 Births.
1841-1850 19.28 146
1851-1860 21.43 143
1861-1870 24.64 153
1871-1880 20.28 147
1881-1890 18.55 144
1891-1900 17.72 148
1901-1910 15.17 120
Mean death-rate 19.58 143
1911 14.86 129
These figures bear out the statement given above.
When we come to examine the returns for last year in the several parts
of the borough, some of them will be found to be very bad, and suggestive of
the inquiry as to why the proportion of deaths to births should be excessive
in some districts as compared with others.
These are the records for the several sub-registration districts:—