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reserve since the total numbers involved are relatively small. However there can
be little doubt that the chance of the illegitimate infant surviving its first year of
life is not now substantially different from that of other children.
Even with the low infant mortality attained, it is considered that a further
reduction is possible. 22 deaths under one year were ascribed to pneumonia and
2 to bronchitis, and many of these must be regarded as preventable.
The stillbirth rate of 17.48 was the lowest figure recorded and can be taken in
part as a testimony of the extent to which ante-natal care is sought and the
efficiency of such care.
Deaths from other causes. The number of deaths from respiratory tuberculosis
has continued to decrease. The death rate from this cause of 0.38 per thousand
population is the lowest recorded figure for Islington. As compared with 1950, the
greatest reduction in the number of deaths due to pulmonary tuberculosis occurred
in the age-group 15-45 with 30 in 1950 as against 60 in the previous year. There
was also a reduction in the age-group 45-65 but some increase (21 to 26) in the
age-group 65 and upwards. This confirms the general trend of the extension of life
of persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, so that the deaths tend to increase
in the older age-group. In spite of the reduction of deaths due to this cause in the
age-group 15-45, it is still the cause of 30 deaths out of a total of 166, and if 4 other
deaths due to other forms of tuberculosis are included, then 20.5 per cent. of all
deaths in this group are due to tuberculosis. In the same age-group there were
37 deaths (22.3 per cent.) from all forms of malignant disease and growths, which
now exceed for the first time those due to tuberculosis and of these deaths due to
malignant disease 38 per cent, were males and 62 per cent, females. In regard to the
various types of malignant disease there were 115 male deaths out of a total of 129
due to cancers etc. of the lung and bronchus showing the great masculine preponderance
in deaths due to these causes. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for
24 deaths (18 male, 6 female) as against 14 road traffic accidents (all types) in
1949.