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in connection with that movement in the Borough, nor does it in any way reflect adversely on the
housing conditions in the Borough. Indeed, I make bold to say that it is doubtful whether any
set of figures in the history of Kensington have reflected more credit on the Council's efforts and
those of the voluntary workers who have interested themselves in the health of the poor of
Kensington
On looking at Table 1, it will be observed that the infantile mortality rate for North Kensington
is actually lower than that for the preceding year (83 in 1925 and 87 in 1924), the increase in the
rate for the Borough from 75 to 78 being due entirely to an increase in the rate for South Kensington
which crept up from 50 to 65. On looking at the rates for the individual Wards, it is found that
the Golborne rate (77) is the lowest in North Kensington and, indeed, is lower than the rates for the
Wards of Holland and Brompton in the South.
It is perhaps permissible to mention in this connection that the Golborne and Nor and Wards
are the two in which the Council have concentrated more effort for the purpose of securing housing
improvements during the past three years than in any other area. Also, very close attention has
been paid to Maternity and Child Welfare work in these two Wards. It is not justifiable to assert
that this astonishing comparison between the Golborne Ward in the North and the Brompton and
Holland Wards in the South is due entirely to the health work of the Council and voluntary organisations
; but it is doubtless reasonable to call attention to the figures as a means of assuring the
Council that the rates in the poorer Wards are such as do not allow any criticism to be levelled at
the effectiveness of the services of the Council and voluntary organisations operating therein.
Consideration of Table 3 helps to show the cause of the increased rate for last year. The
totals at the foot of the table show that of the 223 deaths of infants in the first twelve months of
life, 69 died within the first week and 87 died within the first month. In other words, nearly onethird
of the deaths in the first twelve months of life occurred in the first week of life and nearly 40%
in the first month. In 1924, the percentage of deaths in the first year occurring in the first week
was only 21 and the percentage occurring in the first month was only 33. It is the increase in the
number of deaths in the first month of life, particularly in the first week, which has been responsible
for the increased infantile death rate for the Borough.
It is not probable that any bad housing conditions could have such an adverse effect on the
health of a child as to be to any appreciable extent responsible for that child's death within a week
or even a month of birth. It should also be mentioned that it is not practicable for a mother to
visit an Infant Welfare Centre with her child until three or four weeks after the confinement. The
figures show that it is before that first visit to the Infant Welfare Centre is made that such a large
percentage of the deaths occurs.
Table 3 shows that there were only 15 deaths in the year from all the common infectious
diseases to which children are liable. This figure is remarkably low; it is twelve under the figure
for last year and seven below that for 1923, when the infantile mortality rate was the lowest on record.
The deaths from pneumonia and bronchitis were 62 as compared with 69 in the preceding year.
There were 22 deaths from infantile diarrhoea as against 18 in 1924 and 46 in 1923. The
Council's scheme for the treatment of summer diarrhoea was introduced in June, 1924. That
Summer proved to be cold and wet and did not favour the spread of this disease; therefore the
statistics for 1924 did not allow any opinion to be formed as to the success of the scheme. The
Summer months of 1925 were very hot and most favourable for the spread of enteritis, therefore it
is at least a very satisfactory reflection on the Council's scheme that there were only 22 deaths in
such a year when in 1923, the year of the lowest recorded infantile death rate, the deaths from
enteritis were 46.
There was in 1925 an increase in the deaths from premature birth and atrophy, debility and
marasmus more than sufficient to account for the higher infantile death rate for the year. The
three diseases mentioned are very closely associated with premature birth and it will be seen that
of the 37 deaths from them, 20 occurred in the first month and 15 within the first week of life.
General housing conditions and Infant Welfare Consultations can have very little effect in reducing
the death rate from premature birth and these diseases; but it should be pointed out that a
considerable reduction from these causes could be effected if more expectant mothers attended the
ante-natal clinics and followed the advice which is given thereat. Indeed, these figures do show
that it is desirable that expectant mothers should take advantage in larger numbers of the services
provided at these clinics, not merely for their own safety in confinement, but to prevent the waste
of life in its early days.
Whilst it is clear, therefore, that the increased infantile death rate in the year can be accounted
for by premature birth, together with atrophy, debility and marasmus in the first few days of life,
no reason has been shown why the rate has increased in South Kensington, particularly in two of
the better class Wards.