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The subject is thus a complex one, with the rapidly decreasing
birth-rate, but it is one that the nation must tackle.
The distribution of the infantile deaths in the City is shown in
Table VI., together with the rates per 1,000 corrected births. The rates
are above the average (118) in St. John's with 149, and Covent Garden
Ward with 141, and these two are above the previous year's rate. In
most of the other Wards there is a diminution. The deaths occurred
in the four quarters of the year as follows: first quarter, 97; second
quarter, 73; third quarter, 106; and fourth quarter, 84.
Forty deaths were those of illegitimate infants. It is fortunate
that the proportion of such births is declining as, the chance of living is
much less than that of legitimate infants. It is interesting to note
from the subjoined Table that when the births and deaths of illegitimates
have been taken out, there appears to be a small improvement each
year among the legitimate children. Whether this is an actual
improvement or is due to the removal from the district of an inferior
type of parent, I am not prepared to say, but I think probably the
latter explanation is nearer the truth. The reduced mortality, however,

Of the 40 illegitimate deaths, 14 were connected with St. John's
Ward, 11 with Victoria, and 6 with Kinghtsbridge St. George, 2 each
with the Hamlet and Regent, and one each with Conduit, Grosvenor,
Great Marlborough, Covent Garden, and St. Anne's Wards.
Causes of death.—These are set forth in Table VIII., and also their
distribution in the various Wards of the City. In Table IX. the rates
per 1,000 population have been calculated out. In the City there is
a reduction in the rate in each group, with the exception of diarrhœa,
rheumatic fever, nervous diseases, chest diseases, and old age. In the
county, compared with the previous ten years, there was an excess of
deaths in 1904 from diarrhœa, cancer, suicide, and diseases of the
urinary system.