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59
INFANTILE MORTALITY IN THE NOTTING DALE "SPECIAL AREA"
In another part of this report (page 66) the history of legislation for securing the early notification
of births is set out. When the Bill was in Committee of the House of Commons, reference
was made by the President of the Local Government Board to the high rate of infantile mortality
prevailing in the Notting Dale Special Area; it being mentioned, as a " curious fact," that in this
district of the richest borough in London the infantile mortality rate had in the last ten years
ranged from 274* to as much as 508t per 1.000 births; the average for all London being 150 per
1,000. " Immediately the Bill was passed, the Royal Borough," it was observed, " would doubtless
ask for the Bill being applied to their area, and if not the Local Government Board would put it
upon Kensington." J
Remarking on this utterance, I observed that " the benefits to be expected from immediate
notification of births were considerable, I rejoiced therefore to learn that (should the Bill pass),
whatever might happen in other districts, Kensington would enjoy those benefits, pending the
enactment of a measure for securing earlier registration of births—a subject which had engaged the
attention of the Council in 1905." At the same time, I felt it my duty to indicate how small in
proportion to the whole borough was the portion referred to. In 1906 the births connected with
the area were 95 only (out of 2,429 registered in the North Kensington Parliamentary Division),
and the deaths under one year, 30—an infantile mortality-rate of 315 per 1,000, as compared with
155 per 1,000 in North Kensington as a whole. Particulars were given, in tabular form (vide
page 60), with respect to these 30 deaths, and it was stated that all but four of the houses in which
deaths occurred " at home," were let in furnished rooms. The poverty of the people was indicated
by the status of the parents. Eleven of the fathers were described as " labourers" (as often as
not out of work), the rest, as artisans (3), flower-seller and carman (2 each), street musician, shopkeeper,
and porter, one each. Seventeen of the deaths occurred at home, and 13 in the infirmaryincluding
five of infants who were born at, and never left that institution. Nine infants were the
illegitimate offspring of laundresses and charwomen The causes of death were, epidemic
diarrhoea and enteritis (9), tuberculosis and marasmus (5), lung diseases (7), measles (4), whoopingcough,
brain disease, and want of breast milk, 1 each. Two children were born prematurely.
Twins, aged 9 months, died at a house in Sirdar Road from measles. One of twins died at St.
Katharine's Road of bronchitis, and the other2 5 months later, at the infirmary, of measles caught
there. One death was of an infant from a common-lodging-house. In four instances no information
was obtainable at the reputed homes of the deceased children. The " parish doctors " certified
7 of the deaths; and seven other doctors 1 each. Three deaths were certified by the Coroner after
inquests§ Having regard to the class of persons who inhabit the area, it is little wonder that the
infantile mortality-rate should be a high one; but the number of deaths under one year (30) formed
but a slender basis for the wide generality deduced therefrom. It was the fact, moreover, as I have
shown at page 61, that matters have considerably improved since 1896, when the late Vestry
appointed a committee to consider what steps could be taken " to effect an improvement in the
conditions [then] prevailing in the district in question."
Particulars of the deaths of infants in the area, in 1906, are set out in tabular form on the
the following page.
*This was the rate in 1904: the number of births in the "Notting Dale district" was 113, and in the Borough, as
a whole, 3,568.
‡This was the rate in 1899: the number of births in the "Notting Dale district" was 120, and in the parish as
a whole, 3,682.
‡The Times report, June 4th, 1907. Kensington was the first Borough to adopt the Act.
§Four streets only are now reckoned in the "Special Area," Kenley Street, formerly William Street, having been eliminated
therefrom. Vide page 61.