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82 MORTALITY IN CHILDHOOD.
The numbers of these "hopeless births" recorded annually furnish a strong argument for
shortening the period allowed for registering births, which is at present six weeks. At the same
time it has to be recognised that a certain number of this class of births will almost inevitably
be registered, no matter how brief the time prescribed for registration. If five days were
prescribed, as has already been suggested, the number of "hopeless births" which would have
been noted last year would have been 42.
The deaths due to the "Developmental Diseases" (59 last year, 67 in 1912) may be taken
as an indication of the share of these births due to ante-natal causes, and the remainder (21 in 1913
and in 1912) as due, in part at least, to post-natal causes. The table as a whole points to the
real urgency of more attention being given to the important subject of the care of the unborn
child, which resolves itself into the observance by the pregnant mother of the elementary rules
of hygiene which are specially applicable to her condition.
Premature Birth.—The deaths attributed to this cause numbered 62 (32 of males and 30 of
females), as compared with 58 in 1912 and an average (1908-12) of 54 (32 males and 22 of
females). Included in the total for last year were the deaths of four pairs of twins and a ninth
child, one of twins. The proportion of deaths of illegitimate children (13 per cent.) was unduly
high. Fifteen of the deaths took place in institutions, including 5 in the Paddington Infirmary
and Workhouse, 5 in lying-in hospitals, 3 in general hospitals, and 2 in children's. In 21
instances the duration of pregnancy was stated, being 6-7 months in 4, 7-8 in 12 (8 of the
infants being males), and 8-9 months in 5. It is to be desired that the duration of pregnancy
should be stated, as accurately as possible, in every instance
Diarrhœa.—The deaths from the "Diarrhœal Diseases" at all ages numbered 82 last year,
as compared with 54 in 1912, the mortality being at the rate of 0.56 per 1,000 persons in 1913
and 0.38 in 1912. The average for the five years 1908-12 was 0.49 per 1,000, that period
including the year 1911, when the rate was 1.05. The mortality rates in the Wards (see below)
ranged last year from 1.19 as a maximum (in Church) to a minima of zero in the two Lancaster
Gates. In comparison with the previous year, higher rates were recorded last year in all
Wards except the Lancaster Gates, while in comparison with the quinquennial averages last
year's rates were lower in the two named Wards and in Queen's Park and Hyde Park. The
increases to be noted in Church and Westbourne Wards were considerable.

The deaths recorded last year comprised 73 at ages under two years (47 of males, and 26 of
females) and 8 at higher ages, viz., 2 (both females) at ages 2-5 years, 1 (male) at ages 55-60,
and 5 (male, 1; females, 4) at ages over 65 years. From a public health point of view the deaths
at ages under two years are of most interest, and those only will be referred to now.
The rate of mortality which can be most easily calculated for deaths at ages under two years
is that obtained by the use of the corrected number of births, but it has to be recognised that
such a rate is a purely artificial one. The Registrar-General has, however, adopted that rate for
his Reports. The 73 deaths were equivalent to mortality of 24.18 per 1 000 births, the corresponding
rate for 1912 having been 18 05. Below are given the corresponding rates obtained
from the numbers of deaths given in the Quarterly Reports of the Registrar-General, and it will
be noticed that the rate for the Borough given there is 23.21, or 0.97 less than that arrived at by
the Department. All the rates for 1913 are higher than those for 1912, notably so in the case of
Hampstead, and, with the exception of that of Willesden, above the averages.