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17
It is evident from this that there is some diminution in the number
of deaths ascribed to prematurity, the rate having fallen from 151 per
10,000 births to 123. Various suggestions can be made to account for
this fact, but for the present the number of observations is too scanty to
warrant the adoption of any theory. It was also noticeable that there
is a marked decline in the deaths ascribed to other causes in Table V.
This is particularly satisfactory as the deaths recorded under these headings
are for the most part preventible, and the decline is possibly an
indication that greater care is being taken of newly born infants.

It is satisfactory that there is a decline in the mortality rate of each
group of diseases.
The mortality from diarrhœal diseases has already been discussed.
MORTALITY AS TO SEX.—During 1906-8, 6,090 boys and
5,780 girls have been born, while 735 boys and 519 girls died. The
mortality rate has therefore been 121 per 1,000 for boys and 89 per
1,000 for girls as compared with 158 per 1,000 and 112 per 1,000
in 1900-2.
ILLEGITIMACY AND INFANTILE MORTALITY.—During 1906-8,
577 illegitimate children have been born and 157 have died. This is
equivalent to a death rate of 273 pet 1,000 as compared with 97 per
1,000 for legitimate children.
SOCIAL STATUS AND INFANTILE MORTALITY.—As pointed
out in previous reports the social status of the parents naturally affects
the prospects of a town baby passing safely through the perils of the
first year of life.