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15
During the decade, 1927-36, for example, the infant mortality rates
(ranged in ascending order) were as follows :—
Ward No. 9 48.3 Ward No. 4 60.8
„ No. 8 49.0 North Battersea 61.4
„ No. 3 52.7 Ward No. 6 62. 0
„ No. 7 53.5 „ No. 1 63.6
South Battersea 55.1 „ No. 5 63.9
The Borough 58.5 ,, No. 2 64.5
From what is known of the character of the respective wards
this table, on the whole, follows an expected course, though the low
position of Ward No. 2 is a matter of surprise.
During the same period of 10 years the infant mortality rate
among male babies was 66.6 as compared with only 50.1 among
female children, this being in accord with a well-known phenomenon.
The number of infant deaths in each quarter of the year is
shown in the table on page 13.
There were 61 deaths of infants during the first four weeks of
life (or 48.4 per cent, of the total infant deaths) as compared with
73 deaths (or 53.3 per cent.) in 1935 and a percentage for the
quinquennium (1931-1935) of 44.0
The deaths from developmental diseases were 61 as compared
with 81 in 1935.
Table showing Deaths of Infants under 1 day, under 1 week
and under 4 weeks from 1931 to 1936.
Year.
Under
24 hrs.
1 to
7 days.
1 to
4 weeks.
Total
under
4 weeks.
Percentage
deaths under
4 weeks of
total
infant deaths
1931
28
18
22
68
47·9
1932
16
20
16
52
38·8
1933
21
11
13
45
40·2
1934
25
15
13
53
40·2
1935
38
26
9
73
53·3
Total 1931-35
128
90
73
291
44·0
Mean do
25·6
18
14·6
58·2
-
1936
18
22
21
61
48·4
The causes of the 126 infant deaths are shown in detail in the
appendix, pages 131-133.
Deaths of Illegitimate Infants.
The death-rate amongst illegitimate children during 1936 was
57.47 per 1,000 births, as compared with 160.9 in 1935, 134.8 in
1934, 69.3 in 1933, and 81.4 in 1932. The corresponding death-rate
of legitimate children in 1936 was 59.3, the ratio of mortality
rate of illegitimate infants to that of legitimate being 97 to 100.