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mortality was low all over the country. It is suggestive,
however, to compare the infantile mortality in the Borough
during the last six months of the year with that in the three
neighbouring Boroughs which mostly resemble Battersea in
social conditions, etc., and in the County of London. '1 he
following table shows that in all these districts the mortality
was greatly diminished in 1902, but that the diminution was
more marked in Battersea:—
Period.
Fulham
Deaths
under
1 year to
1,000
births.
Lambeth
Deaths
under
1 year to
1,000
Births.
Camber-
Well.
Deaths
under
1 year to
1,000
Births.
COUNTY
OF
LONDON
Deaths
under
1 year to
1,000
Births.
Battersea.
Deaths
under
1 year to
1,000
Births.
Six months ended Dec. 31, 1897
197
169
202
196
197
185
200
1898
205
198
198
213
203
249
1899
204
201
1900
184
186
177
163
195
177
182
163
1901
168
202
190
202
177
194
Average 1897-1901
198
168
140
152
Six months ended Dec., 1902
143
161
21.6
20.9
15.2
16.8
Percentage reduction
2 7.7
The above table shows that the reduction in infantile
mortality was distinctly greater in Rattersea than in the other
districts, and without attaching too much importance to these
figures, I see no reason to doubt that the Depôt has contributed
to this result.
Additional evidence of the value of the Depôt is afforded
by comparing the mortality amongst the children fed from it
with the infantile mortality in the Borough. During the