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24
INFANT MORTALITY.— The infant mortality rate
represents the proportion of deaths occurring among children
under one year of age to the total births registered during the
same period. Of the 1679 corrected total deaths recorded in the
Borough, 440, or 26.2 per cent., were among children under one
year of age. The infant mortality rate was therefore 122 per
thousand births, compared with 92 in 1903. The comparative
rates for 1904 were:— England and Wales, 146; 76 Great
Towns, 160; and County of London, 144. For comparison
with other London Boroughs, see Table 12. This mortality rate
deserves special consideration. The number of deaths recorded
under one year represent more than one-fourth of the total
deaths from all causes at all ages.
An examination of Table 6 shows that the majority of
the 440 infant deaths were due to Epidemic Diarrhoea and
Enteritis, under which headings 103 deaths were registered.
Eighty-one were attributed to less acute diseases of the digestive
organs; 73 to Respiratory Diseases; and 73 to Premature Birth.