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9
as against registered deaths, we find that the infantile mortality
rate is 100.0, or an increase of 8.8 over the corresponding rate for
the year, 1909.
Table V. gives the causes of all resident deaths, namely 105
amongst infants, of which the most important are:—
Diseases attributable to errors in feeding:—
Atrophy, Debility, Marasmus 22
Diarrhoea, Enteritis, Gastritis 10
Want of breast milk, starvation 1
33
Diseases associated with ante-natal causes:—
Congenital Defects 11
Premature Birth 10
Injury at Birth 2
23
Common Infectious Diseases:—
Whooping Cough 6
Measles 4
Diphtheria 1
11
Total 67
A large proportion of the above deaths could be saved. The
majority of all deaths attributable to errors in feeding should not
occur, and the great proportion of deaths associated with ante-natal
causes. I am of opinion, too, that with better medical attention
and nursing, many deaths from whooping cough and measles could
be saved, but I deal more particularly with this part of the question
under " Deaths from Infectious Diseases."
The whole subject of Infantile Mortality has continued to
engage the attention of the Health Committee and the Council
during the year, and in June last I presented a report to the
Health Committee dealing with the matter in detail and advising
the appointment of a Health Visitor and the adoption of the
Notification of Births Act, 1907. It was pointed out that this
district has one of the highest infantile mortality rates in the