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in South Kensington, three in private houses and one in a South Kensington mews dwelling. This
death in a South Kensington mews was the only one among the 112 children born in this class of
dwelling and in this instance it was quite a good clean home; and it breaks a remarkable
sequence of four years without an infant death from enteritis in South Kensington mews dwellings.
It is most encouraging to note that for the third year in succession there were no infant deaths
from enteritis in North Kensington mews dwellings. The Council's policy in recent years of securing
a three-weekly removal of manure and their insistence on a higher state of cleanliness in mewsways
must have contributed in a marked measure to this satisfactory result.
ABOVE STANDARD DEATHS.
In almost every area there is a number of infant births and deaths occurring in those betterclass
homes where it is reasonable to assume that the children receive every care and all
requisite mcdical and nursing assistance. These are called "above standard" cases and, although
it is difficult to make certain that none is included under this heading in which the attention of a
Woman Health Officer might prove beneficial, they are not generally visited because, in the first
place, the Health Officer may not be welcomed and, in the second place, she can occupy
her time more profitably in visiting homes in the poorer quarters.
In 1926 the "above standard" births numbered 705 and the deaths 25, giving an infantile
mortality rate of 35.
The 2,012 births and 139 deaths not "above standard" in 1926 give an infantile mortality
rate of 69.
The causes of death in the " above standard " cases are as follow:—
Premature birth 9
Tubercular meningitis 3
Infantile debility 2
Congenital heart disease 2
Gastro enteritis 1
Other causes 8
Total 25
The wards to which the children belonged are:—
St. Charles 3
Golborne 1
Norland 2
Pembridge 6
Holland 5
Earl's Court 2
Queen's Gate 3
Redcliffe 1
Brompton 2
Total 25
ILLEGITIMATE INFANT DEATHS.
In 1926, 7.6 per cent. of the births in Kensington were illegitimate and 18.9 per cent. of the
infant deaths were of children of this class.