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INQUESTS. 47
Distributing the 57 deaths according to the manner of feeding reported as being followed
at the date of visit, it appears that 36 children were breast fed, 5 were fed on the breast
supplemented by other food, and 16 were entirely artificially fed—or in two main groups, 36
naturally fed, 21 artificially. Those figures represent mortalities at the rate of 37 per 1,000
among naturally-fed children, and 74 per 1,000 among those fed artifically. The differences
in age distribution of death in the groups is somewhat interesting.
Age at death. Method of feeding,
(months) Natural. Artificial.
Under 1 month - 1
0- 5 5
3— 11 8
6— 14 7
9-12 6 1
It is surmised that the larger numbers of deaths among the naturally-fed at ages between
3 and 9 months—the largest numbers occurred in the 7th and 8th months of life—are
connected with changes of diet due to weaning.
The principal causes of death were respiratory diseases (20 deaths), developmental
disorders (9 deaths), diarrhœal diseases (8 deaths), measles and whooping cough (4 deaths
each). Below the deaths are grouped in the same manner as in other parts of this report.
No comparative figures are available.
Deaths. Mortality.
N. A. N. A.
I.-" Common Infectious Diseases" 6 2 6.1 7.0
II.-" Diarrhoeal Diseases" 2 6 2.0 21.1
III.-" Developmental Diseases" 5 5 5.1 17.6
IV.-"Tuberculous Diseases'' 2 - 2.0
V.-Other causes 21 8 21.6 28.1
" N "—Breast fed children (971). " A "—Children fed otherwise (284). Mortality rate per 1,000.
There is no room for dispute as to the proper method of feeding infants.
INQUESTS.
Of the deaths registered within the Borough, 227 were certified after Coroner's
Inquisition, 61 of the deceased persons being non-residents. Outside the Borough, 63
deaths of residents were certified under the same conditions, giving a nett total of 189
deaths dealt with by Coroners, equal to 9.9 per cent. of the total, the average for the
preceding five years being 8.5 per cent. Table 33 gives a classification of the findings of
the juries, in comparison with the averages for the preceding quinquennium. There Was a
decrease in the number of deaths returned as due to "natural causes."
Of the deaths found due to accidental causes, 11 were due to vehicular traffic, 4 to
building operations, 12 (including 7 of young children) to fire (not conflagrations), 3 to
surgical narcosis, 6 to drowning, 10 (all of young children) to overlaying in bed, 4 (including
3 of young children) to other forms of suffocation, 1 to ptomaine poisoning and 2 to injury at
birth.