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19
In the second month 9.2, and in the third 7.6 per
cent. of the total infantile deaths from all causes
occurred.
Referring to table five and classifying the chief
causes of infantile deaths in the order of fatality we
find them as under:—
Premature birth and congenital
defects 140 equals 24.4 per cent.
Respiratory diseases 115 ,, 20.0 „
Diarrhœal diseases 77 „ 13.4 „
Wasting diseases 58 „ 10.1 „
Common infectious diseases 45 „ 7.8 „
Convulsive diseases 35 ,, 6.1 „
Tubercular diseases 32 ,, 5.5 ,,
Suffocation 32 „ 5.5 „
In my annual Report for 1895 I drew attention to
the increasing uneasiness evinced not only by Sanitary
Authorities, but also by the general public at the
frightful waste of infant life throughout the country,
as revealed by the reports of the Registrar General.
In Sir William Dunbar's recently published report,
that for the year 1906, the following remarks will be
found on page xxxvii:—
Infantile mortality.— The deaths of infants under one
year of age registered in England and Wales in the year 1906,
numbered 123,895, and were in the proportion of 132 per
thousand births. Although this rate was four per thousand
above that registered in 1905, it was fifteen per thousand below
the mean proportion in the ten years 1896-1905.
In the year 1899, the rate had risen to 163 per thousand
births; since that date, however, it has with fluctuations, shewn
an appreciable decline.