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24
STATISTICS OF CHILDHOOD.
The reduction in the rate (36 per cent. for persons) prevailing in Church Ward is particularly
satisfactory, that Ward having been in the past the worst in the Borough as regards infantile mortality.
It will be of interest to add that as regards the rates recorded last year those for males were above
the rate for the Borough (81) in Maida Vale (121) and Queen's Park (91), while the lowest rate (24)
was recorded in Lancaster Gate, West. The rates for females in the following Wards were in excess
of that for the Borough (56): Westbourne, 84; Queen's Park, 65; and Church, 61—the minimum
rate (zero) being recorded in Lancaster Gate, East. Of the total (Persons) rates, which for the Borough
was 69, those observed in Maida Vale (83), Queen's Park (78), Westbourne (78) and Church (71) were
above that standard, while the minimum rate (21) was that for Lancaster Gate, East.
Ages at Death.—The numbers dying at the various ages used in examining infantile mortality
are set out in Table 13, together with the annual averages for 1918-22. Having regard to the
decrease in the number of births during the year in comparison with the average for 1918-22, smaller
numbers of deaths are to be expected for last year, but the numbers actually recorded are, in almost
every instance, less than would be expected from a consideration of the shrinkage in the yield of
births.
To test the saving (if any) in infantile lives which has been effected during recent years, comparisons
have been made between the annual average numbers of deaths (of males and females) at each
age during the two quinquennia, 1909-13 and 1919-23. The results are shown in the annexed table.
The "calculated numbers "—lines "C"—have been obtained by reducing the averages for 1909-13
in the same proportions as the reductions in the average numbers of births.

M. F.
A. 1909-13 Annual average births 1,530 1,478
B. 1919-23 „ „ 1,426 1,362
C. Calculated numbers for 1919-23, on assumption that the mortality rates for 1909-13 remained
unchanged.
The table shows that the average number of deaths of males at ages under one year during 1919-23
was 34 less than the "expected," that of females 38.* It will be observed that at ages under one
month the changes are insignificant, 1 less for males and 3 for females. At ages under six months the
annual "savings" in the case of males amounted to 17 lives, in the case of females to 21. Between
the ages of 6 and 12 months, the savings were same (17 lives) in both cases.
Deaths at Ages 1-5 Years.—(Table 14)—It is estimated that the number of children surviving
to the ages 1-2 years at the end of 1922 was 2,542; to ages 2-3, 2,533; to ages 3-4, 3,064; to 4-5
years, 2,042; and that the total for the ages 1-5 years was 10,181. It would have been preferable to
estimate the numbers to the middle of 1923, but owing to the fact that the births cannot be corrected
to that date, such estimates cannot be arrived at. During 1923 the deaths at those ages were: 1-2
years, 37 (males 18, females 19); 2-3, 17 (males 8, females 9); 3-4, 13 (males 8; females 5); 4-5, 5
(males 2, females 3); and 1-5, 72 (males 36, females 36). The mortality rates (per 1,000) were in
the same order—14.55, 6.71, 4.24, 2.44 and (1-5) 7.07. In 1922 the rates were: 24.26, 8.73, 5.35,
8.14 and (1-5), 12.15—all considerably above those observed last year.
In the table given below the mortality rates for 1909-13 are compared with those for 1919-23.
To indicate the reductions in the rates for the latter quinquennium, Index Numbers have been calculated,
taking the rates for 1909-13 as 100 in each sex-age group.
* The total saving of lives during the quinquennium was, for males 170, for females 190, and the combined
Sexes (persons) 360.