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Neo-natal deaths, however, may be divided into two groups, the first containing cases of "Bronchitis,"
" Marasmus," " Enteritis" and " Prematurity," and the second " Complications of Birth," "Congenital
Malformations" and ''Other Conditions."
It will be seen from line 2 and line 3 of Table X that the environmental conditions in the first group are
very similar to those of the total infant deaths from all causes, except that the proportion of " A " incomes is
rather lower.

Line 1 is the neo-natal deaths from "Bronchitis," "Marasmus," "Enteritis," and "Prematurity."
Line 3 is the total deaths of infants under 1 year (see Table I.).
In the second group of neo-natal deaths the environmental conditions are decidedly above the average ;
it seems unlikely, therefore, that these deaths can be attributed to home conditions. It seems possible that
good environment may be associated in some of these cases with later marriages and more difficult confinements
associated with complications and birth injuries.
In the first group it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that deaths of those infants are not due to the bad
influence of their surroundings, but frequently to an innate lack of the capacity to remain alive.
Between a baby that is full of energy and one with inanition the clinical differences are very great. They
resemble so closely those found in animals, according to whether their diet contains or does not contain
vitamins, that an avitamosis seems a possible explanation of these cases.
ENVIRONMENT.
In considering environment as a factor in the causation of the illness and death of these children, the Committee
have indicated in the following paragraphs, if any alteration or improvement appears to be possible,
the direction in which, in their opinion, action should be taken.
Housing.
The deaths of infants appear to occur equally in the good, fair, and bad types of house. It is interesting to
note that Dr. Corry Mann, investigating rickets in Southwark, found that size of house, or air-space in the bedrooms,
had no influence in producing rickets. (Special Report No. 68 of the Medical.Research Committee, 1922).
The number of houses classed " A " is based on a comparison with the average for the borough, but many of these
houses leave a great deal to be desired. Of the houses classed as " C " many are very unsatisfactory basements.
Income.
Poor incomes affect the child's health probably mostly by reason of poor feeding, such a child having little
resistance, and being prone to take any disease.
In families with "A" and "B" incomes, on the other hand, there is not the excuse of poverty, and the
Committee feel that the proportion of deaths in these cases is higher than it should be.
Ante-Natal Maternal Employment.
In considering the 34 "C" entries under this heading, it should be noted that 23 of the 34 are illegitimate
infants. In the 11 "Prematurity" cases included in the 34, 8 are illegitimate. The combined effect of illegitimacy
and work in the last three months of pregnancy must be a serious adverse factor capable of producing
poor health in the infant.
Ante-natal employment per se does not appear to be a very large factor in the causation of the infantile
mortality in Kensington.
Post-Natal Maternal Employment.
It will be seen that 122 mothers did not resume work till the baby was 9 months of age or more. If we
exclude " Congenital Malformations," "Complications of Birth," and "Other Conditions," we have still
left 102 mothers who stayed at home to look after their family. Of the 102 children, 40 were entirely breast fed
and 35 were partly breast fed, a total of 75.
It is evident that home nursing of an infant by its mother is not necessarily satisfactory, unless certain other
factors are satisfactory also, as suggested elsewhere in this Report.
Feeding.
Before considering the extent to which feeding may contribute to the causes of illness and death of these
infants it may be useful to summarise the information available on this subject.
In infants, as compared with adults, a greater proportion of the food taken is devoted to tissue-building.
If these tissues are to be healthy—if the infant is to have a sound constitution—the importance of using from the
beginning sound materials in the building process is apparent.
We have little or no control over the waves of illness that from time to time sweep over the community,
but we know that the well-built child with a sound physique will survive the storm, while the child with a poor
constitution will become waterlogged and sink.