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children under two years of age. There were 75 deaths from these diseases
(excluding refugees) during the year, and the zymotic death-rate is therefore
1.05, as compared with 1.39 for the previous year. This figure is 0.34
less than last year. The zymotic death-rate for 1916 in London was 1.44.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The infantile mortality is a special death-rate, referring to the first ageperiod
(0 to 1 year), and is expressed as the number of deaths that takes
place amongst children under one year of age per thousand births registered.
The number of such deaths occurring amongst Edmonton children and
registered within (or without) the district was 142, and the births registered
within (or without) the district, born of Edmonton mothers, numbered 1,633
(Belgians excluded); therefore the infantile death-rate, based on these figures,
is 86.96 per thousand births. The lowest record is 74.55, in 1910. Nine
of the 142 infantile deaths were those of illegitimate infants—that is 6.3 per
cent. of the infantile deaths; two inquests were held. Inquests were also
held on 15 of the other infants, making a total of 17. There were 3 infantile
Belgian deaths, none of them illegitimate; including these, the rate would
be 87.66.
The infantile mortality rate for the year in England and Wales was 91;
in London, 89; in the 96 great towns (which include Edmonton), 99; and
in the 148 smaller towns, 90 per thousand births registered.
Table IV. shows that 29.5 per cent. of the infantile deaths occurred
within the first month of life, and that 28.87 per cent. were due to what are
termed " wasting diseases," viz.: premature birth, atrophy, debility, congenital
defects, and marasmus. Last year the figures were over 29 and 29 per cent.
I must also notice that the premature births were only 14, compared with
18, 32 and 26 for 1915-14-13.
Conference. A very important meeting of representatives from all
parts was held at the City Guildhall on 26th October, 1915. The proceedings
were based on the text of "Saving the Future," and eminent speakers on the
subject addressed a crowded audience of persons interested, or who ought to
be interested, in Child Welfare. My Council refused to appoint a representative.
Our attention was called to the meeting by a letter of 4th January, from
the National Association for the Prevention of Infant Mortality, requesting
the Chairman of the Council to follow the precedent of the Lord Mayor of
London by giving, not only his personal support to this national movement,
but making it a special feature for his year of office by initiating and presiding
in the District at a meeting similar to that held in the Guildhall. In