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mortality in childhood.
When the rates for each sex are examined (see below), it will be found that those for males
were, with the exception of the first age, lower than those recorded in 1912 and, except
at ages 2-3, than the averages. In the first age group there was a considerable increase in
comparison with 1912, but a smaller one in comparison with the average. In neither
instance was the increase commensurate with that observed in females. At each age the
rate for females showed large increases over the 1912 rate and the average. In fact, the
increase noted in the rate for the whole group 1-5 years is attributed to the higher mortality
among females.

The mortality rates from certain selected causes of death are shown in Table 51. The
increases noted at ages 1-2 in males were due to excessive mortality from measles, whooping
cough, diarrhoea and the respiratory diseases, those among females to measles, whooping cough,
and the respiratory diseases. Increases in the mortality among males aged 2-3 have to be noted
from whooping cough, scarlet fever, and the tuberculous diseases, and among females from
measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough, and the diarrhœal, tuberculous and respiratory diseases.
At ages 3-4 the only disease with a higher mortality among males was diphtheria, while among
females nearly every disease showed higher mortality. At ages 4-5 diphtheria and accidents
were the only causes showing increased mortality among males, but among females higher rates
were due to measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, congenital malformations, and "other causes."
The conclusion which may be framed from this brief survey is that the increased mortality noted
in the whole group 1-5 years was due to the prevalence of the zymotic and respiratory diseases
and the specially high incidence on females.
In Table 52 the mortality rates recorded for each sex at each age in each Ward of the
Borough are compared with the 1912 rates and the averages. The feature of the table which will
first strike the eye is the contrast between the mortality occurring in the five northern Wards and
that occurring in the three southern. Large increases will be noted in the northern Wards at
ages 1-2, both among males and among females.
Mortality among Illegitimate Children.
The deaths of 48 illegitimate children were recorded last year in the Borough, including 7
of non-resident children. In outlying districts 13 other deaths were recorded belonging to the
Borough, the corrected total being 54 deaths as compared with 44 in 1912. Inquests were held
with reference to 10 of the deaths.
The 54 deaths were equally divided between the two sexes, and only one of the children
{a male) was above the age of 5 years. At ages under 1 year there were 39 deaths (18
of males and 21 of females), and at ages 1-5 years, 14 (8 of males and 6 of females). Four of
the deaths (all of females) were allocated to Hyde Park Ward, the remainder to the five
northern Wards. The maximum number allocated to any Ward was 18 (Church Ward, 12 of
males and 6 of females). The deaths are distributed according to cause, sex, and age in the
appended statement. More than half the deaths (26) were due to the diarrhceal and respiratory
diseases.