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9
The effort that is made to-day in the direction of the saving of all
infant life—including even the almost totally unfit—must not he
allowed to blind us to the great issues also at stake indicated by the
rapidly declining birth-rate. If the birth-rate of legitimate children
were calculated upon the number of married females of conceptive
ages instead of upon the whole population, I am of opinion the
decline would be found to be much more marked.
Of two great causes of the decline of the birth-rate, voluntary
limitation of families is outside the scope of the Health Authorities'
activities, but one cause, namely, venereal disease can and is being
grappled with. It behoves everyone who is interested in the subject
of the declining birth-rate, as well as the health of the nation at
large, to make themselves informed on this subject of venereal
disease. Never in the history of the present generation has it been so
important. Lectures are given periodically on this subject, and
information will also be readily supplied from the Public Health
Department if applied for, both as regards education on the subject
and on the way to obtain treatment for anyone suffering from venereal
disease.
In the Table on page 111 the birth-rates of Hampstead may be
compared with those of England and Wales since 1891.
Illegitimate Births.
Of the 1,064 births registered in the Borough 53 were of illegitimate
children.
Of the total 1,156 nett births belonging to Hampstead, 117 or 101
per 1,000 births registered were those of illegitimate children. 54 of
these were born outside the Borough, chiefly in Lying-in Institutions,
while 10 occurring within the Borough were considered not to be
Hampstead children. The rate per 1000 births in 1918 was 109.
This subject is also referred to in the Section relating to Maternity
and Child Welfare.
DEATHS.
The recorded death rate is the rate obtained by calculating the
number of "nett" deaths per 1000 of the population. From the total
deaths of civilians registered is deducted the number who were