View report page

41
[1908
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The infantile mortality, that is the proportion of deaths of children
under one year old to the number of births registered, during the year was
the most favourable recorded in Islington since the date of civil
registration, for it is found that the total number of these deaths was 894
among 8,665 births, representing an annual mortality of 103 per 1,000 of those
births.
The nearest approach to this rate was in 1907, when 966 deaths occurred,
representing an infantile mortality rate of 117 per 1,000 births. Thus the last
two years have been fortunate in showing the lowest mortality among infants
which the Borough has hitherto experienced.
The infant mortality was fairly low in each quarter; thus in the first
quarter there were 247 deaths and the rate was equal to 111 per 1,000 births;
in the second quarter the return was still more favourable, for the deaths
numbered only 171 and the rate was as low as 80 per 1,000 births, which is
the lowest rate hitherto recorded at this period of the year. There have
been, however, comparatively low death-rates, for that of 1889 was only 94,
of 1897, 90, of 1904, 94, and of 1906, 90. As a rule, this period of the year
is the most favourable to infant life, because there are no extremes of heat
or cold, nor are there wide differences between the day and the night temperatures.
In the third quarter 204 deaths were registered, which represent a rate
of 95 per 1,000 births, which, although not a record for this time of the year, yet
it was only less favourable than that experienced in 1907, when there were
166 deaths, which gave a proportion of 79 per 1,000 births. Nothing approaching
these figures has hitherto been attained.
The fourth quarter also exhibited a low mortality, for the 272 deaths
registered represent a mortality of 124 per 1,000 births. This rate has only
been lower twice, viz., in 1894 and in 1885, when it was 123. Thus it is seen
that whether the figures for the year are examined for each quarter or for
the year they are good.
It need hardly be said that these low rates which Islington enjoyed were
as a rule equally enjoyed by other places, for it appears from the Registrar
General's returns that the mortality among infants was also very low in
England and Wales, being in the proportion of 121 deaths to every 1,000
births, a rate which was the lowest on record with the exception of that of
1907, when it amounted to 118. The large towns also enjoyed a low infantile
mortality, the rate being 124, as compared with 127 per 1,000 in 1907 and
a mean proportion in the preceding ten years of 147.
D