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10
DEATHS OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE PER 1,000 BIRTHS IN
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSES.
As pneumonia, bronchitis and enteritis were responsible for over one-third of the infant
deaths in 1924, it will be interesting to see how the rates for these diseases vary in accordance with
the types of houses occupied by the families in which the deaths occurred.
In the following table, a dwelling occupied by one family only, or which has been converted
into self-contained flats or maisonettes, is classed as a " private house." The number of these in
the Borough is approximately 19,250.
A " tenement house " is one let in lodgings to more than one family without being specially
adapted for the purpose. Of the 5,690 houses of this class in the Borough, 2,904 are on the
Register of Houses let in Lodgings and, consequently, are subject to the Council's by-laws.
A "mews dwelling" is a habitation with generally one to three rooms situated over a stable and
coach-house. In the majority of cases in South Kensington and some in North Kensington, the
stables and coach-houses have been converted into garages. The occupants of mews dwellings vary
in type, some are respectable and careful people, whilst others belong to the most careless and
indifferent members of the community. There are 2,091 mews dwellings in the Borough.
Deaths of Infants from
All Causes.
Deaths of Infants from
Pneumonia and Bronchitis.
Deaths of Infants from
Enteritis.
Boro. N. Ken S. Ken. ' Boro. N. Ken. S. Ken. Boro. N. Ken. S. Ken.
I
Private Houses—
Births 600 273 327 600 273 327 600 273 327
Infant Deaths 32 12 20 10 6 4 1 — 1
„ Death Rates per 53 43 61 16 21 12 1 — 3
1,000 births
Tenement Houses—
Births 2,002 1,621 381 2,002 1,621 381 2,002 1,621 381
Infant Deaths 179 161 18 50 51 4 17 16 1
Death Rates 89 90 47 27 31 10 8 10 2
per 1,000 births
Mews Dwellings—
Births 142 69 73 142 69 73 142 1 69 ! 73
Infant Deaths 8 5 3 4 2 2 — — —
„Death Rates 56 72 41 28 29 27 — — —
per 1,000 births
A table similar to the above appeared in the report for 1923 and some of the infant death rate
figures led to certain misconceptions, therefore, it was my intention to give in the table this year
the births and infant deaths but to make no reference to the rates. As, however, the table when
finally prepared did not show any seriously misleading figures I have resolved to include the death
rates in order that those members of the Council who desire to make comparisons with previous
\ears may do so without difficulty. It must, however, be remembered that when the births and
infant deaths for the Borough are divided up into those occurring in private houses, those occurring
in tenement houses and those occurring in mews dwellings, and each of these three groups is subdivided
further into North Kensington and South Kensington sub-groups, and these sub-groups are
still further divided according to the cause of death, the numbers of births and deaths in each subgroup
are so small that one death more or less than that recorded would give a difference in the
rate which might convey a false impression unless the actual birth and death figures are noted.
For example, in the above table it will be seen that there were no deaths in mews dwellings from
enteritis during the year, therefore, the rate is nil per 1000. If there had been one death in South
Kensington, the rate for the Borough would have gone up to 7 per 1000 and for South Kensington
to 14 per 1000, whereas the 17 deaths from enteritis in tenement houses in Kensington give a rate
of only 8 per 1000.
The example quoted above serves to draw attention to the fact that during the year there was
not one death from enteritis amongst 142 children born in mews dwellings. The year 1924 is the
third in succession in which there has not been an infant death from such a cause in the South
Kensington mews dwellings. There are very few horses kept in that part of the Borough with the
result that there is practically no storage of manure on which flies can breed, and this is probably
the main reason for the absence of enteritis deaths in the mews dwellings in that half of the
Borough. It is encouraging to note, however, that there was a similar absence of deaths in
North Kensington mews.
The table shows generally a higher death rate in mews dwellings than in private houses
and a still higher rate in tenement houses, but before any conclusions are arrived at as to the
effect of housing conditions upon the infant death rate, consideration must be given to the fact
that negligent, careless, ignorant and poverty-stricken parents generally drift into the worst
type of tenement house and mews dwelling.