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39
[1904
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The Infantile Mortality was particularly low during 1904, for not only
were the deaths of infants under a year old below the average, but the rate
itself was less than that experienced in the preceding nineteen years, with one
exception, 1903, when it was only 1 per 1,000 births less.
The number of infant deaths was 1,140 as compared with an average of
1,394, and was in the proportion of 128 per 1,000 infants born during the year,
This rate was exceedingly gratifying, for it was lower than the general rate
of the country at large, than that of any of the 33 Great Towns and of the 67
Smaller Towns, while it was almost identical with the rate of Rural England.
Only 10 among the Great Towns showed so good a mortality return.
In the County of London the Infantile Mortality rate was 146 per 1.000
births, which contrasts favourably with the populous provincial towns, and
in eight of its boroughs even lower rates than that of Islington were registered.
The collective rate of the boroughs encircling Islington was 146 per 1,000
children born, or 18 above the local rate.
The cause of the low mortality was due to a great decrease in nearly every
infantile malady, although there was an increase under the headings of Measles
(13), Diarrhoea (65), Premature Births (5), and Gastritis (3). The various
diseases are set out in Table XXV.