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The number of deaths from suffocation was 5 compared
with five in 1917 and nil in 1916. In the previous four years
the deaths from suffocation in bed averaged four a year, and in
the four years 1904-7 they averaged 7. Two of the five deaths
which occurred in 1918 took place at birth and were apparently
due to lack of proper attention, and not to overlying.
The death rate per 1,000 births from premature birth
in Woolwich Borough was 22.9 compared with 14.2, 20.5, 19.5,
17.9 and 17.8 in the five preceding years. In London it was
19.5 in 1917.
There were 34 deaths of illegitimate infants.
The death-rate of illegitimate infants under one year
was 347 per 1,000 births (compared with 218 in 1917) and that of
legitimate children 94. This great increase in the illegitimate
death-rate and the increase of the premature birth-rate are disquieting
facts.
19, Compared with 1917 the past year had among infants
more deaths from premature births injury at birth, enteritis,
bronchitis, meningitis, whooping cough and influenza.
20. Deaths between 1 and 5 years. 81 deaths (57 in 1917)
ocourred between 1 and 3 years, and 88 (56 in 1917) between 2
and 5). The death-rate between 1 and 5 was 16.3 per 1,000
children of that age found at the Census (viz., 10,357) compared
with 13.1, 10.1, and 13.6, in the three previous years.
Too much emphasis must not be attached to this apparent increase
which is no doubt largely due to increase of population.
21. Zymotic Death-rate. The number of deaths from scarlet
fever, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, enteric fever, and
from diarrhoea and enteritis (under 2 years of age as regards
diarrhoea and enteritis), was 105, and the death rate per 1,000
population 0.72, compared with 0.95, 0.85, and 0.69, in the three
previous years.
The zymotic death rate has fallen greatly since 1901,
when it was 1.51.
22. INQUESTS. There were 112 inquests, compared with 123.
146, 180, l81 and 131, in the five preceding years.
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