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46
spinal disease—which do not contribute to the death-rate to such an
extent as lung affection, but which entail longer suffering and disablement.
Diarrhœa.—There were 1,371 deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis
in children under 2 yeai-s of age in London. In 1911, the deaths from
these causes were 5,313. In Westminster, the number was 37, 30 being
under 2 years of age (57 at this age in 1911). Comparison with former
years is made below:—
Westminster. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907.
Epidemic diarrhœa 59 80 47 75 27
Other forms of enteritis 14 16 17 20 19
Total deaths 73 96 64 95 46
Number under 1 year of age 52 72 42 71 27
Number of births 3,185 3,054 3,120 2,931 2,927
Deaths of infants per 1,000
births 16.3 23.5 13.4 24.2 9.2
Westminster. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912.
Epidemic diarrhœa 24 10 9 47 9
Other forms of enteritis 23 23 32 47 28
Total deaths 47 33 41 74 37
N umber under 1 year of age 33 27 26 49 27
Number of births 2,913 2,751 2,592 2,361 2,349
Deaths of infants per 1,000
births 11.4 9.2 10.0 20.7 11.4
The decrease was in the acute or infective form, which occurs in the
hot weather, but the dates of the cases this year bear little relation
thereto, as the deaths of 8 of the children under 5 occurred in the spring
and winter months.
Enquiry was made with regard to the infant deaths. Three were of
illegitimate children, 8 had been delicate from birth, 3 being premature.
Only 2 infants had been entirely breast-fed, and 7 had been suckled at
first for a week or two. In 8 instances the mothers were out at work
during the day, 1 mother died, 1 became insane, 1 is an habitual drunkard,
and 1 was homeless; consequently, the children did not receive the
necessary care. Nine died in hospital and 4 in the infirmary, 2 having
been born and remained there all the time. In 4 instances, the general
cleanliness of the home was found to be poor.
Had greater care been taken in certifying the actual cause of death,
the illness would probably have been attributed to tuberculosis in
5 cases, to syphilis in 2, and to rickets in 3. Cold and dampness,