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31
The second group of diseases which have been responsible
for a high percentage of infant deaths in Battersea during 1907
is the respiratory disease group (bronchitis and pneumonia).
Of the total infant deaths 115 (i.e., 21.8 per cent.) were caused
by bronchitis and pneumonia. Again the influence of environment
is strongly emphasised. Of the 115 deaths from this
group, 109 (i.e., 94.7 per cent.) occurred in East and NorthWest
Battersea. These deaths are largely preventable, being
due to carelessness in exposing infants, who are very susceptible
to cold at that period of life.
Diarrhœa, the third disease condition giving rise to a high
infant mortality, is in most years the second most fatal disease
of infancy. During 1907 the climatic conditions which favour
a high rate of infant mortality from this cause were absent,
and the year has been in consequence a most remarkable one.
The subject of epidemic diarrhoea is dealt with elsewhere in this
report.
The causes which have given rise to these 526 infant deaths
have been the subject of careful enquiry by the Health Department,
and during the year 1907 the homes in which 411 of the
total 526 deaths had taken place were visited, and enquiries
made into the history of each case. The scope of these
enquiries included the health and occupation of the mother,
condition of the home, method of feeding, and the occupation
of the father. The results of these enquiries are dealt with
briefly, but will be found of interest in the bearing which they
have on the question of infant mortality in Battersea.
Health and Occupation.—Of the 411 deaths enquired into,
in 263 cases (or 64 per cent.) the parents belonged to the labouring
class. In only 60 instances (i.e., 14.6 per cent.) were the
mothers of the dead infants engaged in other than domestic
duties. In 42 instances (i.e., 10.2 per cent.) the mothers suffered
from very bad health; and in many of the remainder an
unsatisfactory state of health was more or less evident.
Conditions of the Homes.—In only 6.3 per cent. of the