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29
The figures for Camberwell have been derived from the report
of the Registrar-General, the others from the Medical Officers of
the various Boroughs. The Registrar's result for Finsbury is 131.
In the Registrar-General's return, Finsbury stands third highest
—it occupied a similar position in 1908.
Ages at Death.—Out of 366 deaths, 57 children died in Ihe
first week of existence, a number exceeding that of any subsequent
month. Of these deaths, 45 were due to premature birth:
it is difficult at present to see how to prevent this happening.
It may later become possible to initiate some scheme of cooperation
with the large hospitals in our midst, so that when an
expectant mother applies for a midwifery ticket, her name, address
and expected date of her confinement may be given to the Public
Health Department and the case kept under supervision and helped
until labour begins, or until the hospital takes the case over.
The number of children who died in the first month was 100—
more than twice the number of those who died in any succeeding
month. It thus becomes obvious that the important month for
health visitation is the first month of life—if the infant can be
successfully brought over the first month he may then have a fair
chance in the later struggle.
The deaths in the first three months number 175—that is nearly
half the children die before they reach the age of three months.
After the third month the number of deaths becomes less and
continues less with small intermissions until the end of the first
year of life, when again there is a slight rise—probably associated
with the weaning of the infant.