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27
causes of infantile mortality in certain portions of the borough,
and they have received the following report from Dr. Whitehouse,
the Medical Officer of Health, on the subject:—
In stating the chief factors which influence the death
rate of infants in the borough it is necessary to consider
first the causes of death.
It is approximately estimated that in the past five
years 9.3 per cent. died from infectious diseases, chiefly
Measles and Whooping Cough, 17 per cent, died from
Diarrhceal Diseases, 28 per cent, from Wasting Diseases
(17 from Premature Birth and 11 from Marasmus), 2.7 per
cent, from Tuberculosis Diseases, and 43 per cent, from
other diseases, 20 per cent, being due to Pneumonia and
Bronchitis.
During 1910 there were 45 more deaths among infants
than 1909, the main increases being due to the following
diseases:—Diarrhoeal Diseases accounted for 32 more
deaths, Bronchitis and Pneumonia 11, Accidents 3, Convulsions
7, Wasting Diseases 5, Heart and Meningitis 5.
The main decreases were: Premature Births 15 less
and Tubercle 4 less.
The remaining causes were fairly normal and correspond
with the previous year to a great extent. The
factors contributing to the Diarrhoea and Chest Troubles
are those mentioned in the text of this report.
By far the greater number of deaths have been
registered in the Central District, which comprises the
whole of the East and parts of the North and North-West
Wards, the first named supplying the larger number of
deaths.