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107
Taking the figures in the table as a whole, the outstanding
features are:—
(1) The predominance of premature birth, and conditions
classified as debility and marasmus. Between them they
accounted for 41% of the total deaths, and contributed 19.4
deaths per 1,000 births towards the infantile mortality rate.
(2) Next to these come Pneumonia and Diarrhoea with 36%
of the total deaths and a contribution of 16.8 per 1,000 to the
infantile mortality rate.
(3) The influence of pre-natal causes is exerted mainly during
the first two months of life, whilst the influence of environment
and nurture, after that time. The causes of death change after
the second month in a quite distinct manner.
(4) Whooping Cough caused only 1 death. In 1932 it caused
8 deaths. There were 3 deaths from Measles.
(5) In the tabulated deaths of children under 1 year of age, the
child who died was a first child in 36.1% ; a second child in 20.5% ;
a third child in 13.1% ; a fourth child in 12.3% ; a fifth child in
6.6% ; a sixth child in 3.3% ; a seventh child in 1.6% ; an eighth
in 0.8% ; a ninth in 1.6% ; a tenth in 0.8% ; and a fourteenth in
0.8%. In 2.5% of total deaths no data were forthcoming owing to
the parents having moved, or for other reasons.
The following table gives the chief causes of infant deaths,
as compared with 1932:—