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14
The death rate from tuberculosis of the lungs for
1923 was 0.9 per thousand of the population. For
disseminated tuberculosis it was 0.04, and for tuberculosis
of other organs it was 0.14.
Infantile Mortality.—Of 1,708 deaths during 1923,
199 or 11.6 per cent, were of infants under one year
of age, and the rate of infant mortality measured by
the proportion of deaths under one year of age to registered
births was 64 per thousand, being 5 per thousand
below that of 1922, and 19 per thousand below that
of 1921. This rate of 64 per thousand births is the
lowest rate ever recorded in the borough, but in this
year of almost phenomenally low infant mortality
rates Fulham stands none too well as compared with
other Metropolitan boroughs. Out of 25 London
boroughs, for which I have been able to obtain the pro
infantile mortality rate, Fulham stands tenth,
and amongst the boroughs with a lower infantile
mortality rate than Fulham are such populous workingclass
boroughs as Deptford (62), Poplar (62), Stepney
(61), Greenwich (57), Battersea (49) and Woolwich (43).
While, undoubtedly, we are making distinct progress
in the reduction of our infantile mortality rate, it is
clear, from the figures which I have quoted, that we
must not yet be satisfied with the results of our work.
During 1923 the infantile mortality rate for London
was 61, and for England and Wales, as a whole, 69.
The causes of deaths of infants during 1923 are set
out in Table No. III., and classified according to age
and ward. In this regard it is worthy of note that
51 or approximately 25 per cent, of the total deaths
occurred as a result of premature birth. There should
be a reasonable chance of preventing a considerable
amount of this form of infant mortality when we are
able to get a larger proportion of our mothers to
attend the Ante-Natal Clinic, and come under medical
attention prior to the birth of the child. The other
principal causes of infant mortality during the year
were pneumonia 31 deaths, atrophy and debility 21
deaths, and diarrhoea and enteritis 21 deaths.