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37
Some of the deaths ascribed to convulsions are due to suffocation
in bed with the parents.
Suffocation in bed with parents.—21 deaths were caused
in this way. The figures for preceding years were 29 and 20
respectively.
These deaths are clearly preventible.
Infants should never sleep in the same bed with their parents
or other persons. Every infant should have its own cradle, which
need not be an ornate or elaborate structure. A banana crate or
an orange box can easily be made suitable.
Occasionally these deaths are due to definite overlaying, but it
is quite common to find that the death occurred while the child
was on the mother's arm with its lips and mouth pressed hard
against the breast.
Most of the cases occurred on Saturday and Sunday, least on
Thursday. This fact is often citcd as lending support to the
suspicion that these deaths are associated with indulgence in
alcohol in the parents. Possibly this may be the correct view—
but no doubt some of the deaths may also be due to simple
weariness on the part of the mother after a hard day, and a
strenuous week's work.
Section 13 of the Childrens' Act, 1908, provides punishment on
conviction where it is proved that the death of an infant under 3
years of age was caused by suffocation while the infant was in
bed with some other person over 16 years of age, and that that
other person was at the time of going to bed under the infiuencs
of drink.
The intention of this provision is excellent, and it is much to
to hoped that it will lead to a reduction in the number of deaths
due to suffocation in bed.
The infant deaths and infant mortality rates according to
district are displayed below:—