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6
The infantile mortalities of the eight wards of the Borough are contained in
Table VII. (Appendix). It was highest in Whitmore Ward, where it amounted to
177 and lowest in Moorfields, where it was only 45 per 1,000 births. The latter
figure is exceptionally low, and in connection with this it is to be noted that the
birth-rate was also very low in Moorfields Ward. Haggerston Ward also has a birthrate
and infantile mortality markedly below the average rates for the Borough.
As pointed out in previous reports the infantile mortality in Shoreditch is one
of the highest in London. This high rate is doubtless mainly the result of the large
proportion of persons belonging to the poorer sections of the working-class resident
in the Borough and the great density of the population, which is about three times
that of the metropolis as a whole. The high birth-rate of the Borough as compared
with that of London as a whole may also possibly not be without some effect as a
contributing cause. The efforts of Miss Charlesworth, the Health Visitor, as indicated
in her report (Appendix, p. 78) are directed towards mitigating some of the evil effects
resulting from these influences and good work has been accomplished during the
year. The field however is a large one, and there is ample scope for the energies
of other health visitors. It may be pointed out that the services of voluntary health
visitors are being utilised in a number of the sanitary districts in London and
elsewhere in ameliorating the conditions which tend to the destruction of infant
life. Much useful work in this direction could also be done in Shoreditch by voluntary
workers acting under the supervision of the Borough Health Visitor. It is to be
hoped that before long the services of such voluntary workers may be available in
the Borough for a large amount of work is necessary. With well sustained effort,
however, there is every reason for expecting that tangible results in the saving of
infant lives will in due time become apparent.
The deaths amongst children aged from one to five years numbered 257 ; of these
57 were attributed to measles, 24 to whooping cough, 12 to diphtheria, 8 to diarrhoea,
39 to various forms of tuberculosis, 9 to bronchitis, and 67 to pneumonia. Accident
or negligence resulted in 8 deaths, 4 of which were through vehicular traffic.
Altogether 785 or 41 per cent, of the total number of deaths at all ages during
the year were of children under five years of age.
Of children aged between five and fifteen, 55 died ; the chief causes being
tuberculosis, which accounted for 14 deaths, other infectious diseases, which
resulted in 12, diseases of the heart and circulatory organs in 8 and accident or
negligence, which caused 8 deaths.
There died 59 persons aged from fifteen to twenty-five years, of whom 12 were
the victims of consumption, 7 of other infectious diseases, 8 of diseases of the heart
and circulatory organs, and 4 of accident or negligence.