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So far as can be ascertained, 192 of the deaths
were those of legitimate infants and 6 those of illegitimate
infants. Accordingly, we have the following
figures for Infantile Mortality:—
Infantile Mortality (legitimate) 68.2
do. do (illegitimate) 92.3
do. do. (all infants) 68.7
Of the 198 deaths, 34 were due to prematurity.
This is a substantial decrease on the figures for 1921
and 1922, which were 47 and 54 respectively. Some
of the credit for this important reduction may be
awarded to the Ante-natal Clinics provided by the
Council and by the various organisations dealing with
maternity in the Borough. At the Council Maternity
Clinic alone, 387 expectant mothers attended. It
would be unwise, however, to attach undue importance
to the work of Ante-natal Clinics in this matter
without further experience.
The deaths from diarrhœae diseases were 34 in
number, a very low figure and much on a level with
last year's figure of 25.
There were 42 deaths from bronchitis and
pneumonia, as compared with 83 last year. This,
again, is a very satisfactory reduction, mainly due to
the slight prevalence of whooping cough and measles
which are so often followed by fatal chest trouble in
infants.
The Infantile Mortality figure of 68.7 per 1,000
births is a record one for Bethnal Green, the previous
record having been 85 in the year 1919. In 1903,
20 years ago, the figure was 141. The reduction in
the mortality of infants is a matter on which the
Council may well congratulate itself, as it is largely
due to municipal work. It is also a source of personal
gratification to the staff engaged in Infant
Welfare work. If the infantile mortality were to-day
what it was twenty years ago, 405 babies would have