View report page

9
3. Influence of crowding as measured by the average number of families in a house.
In 6 districts where every 10 houses lodge on an average less than 15 families.
Such deaths occurred in 16.5 per 1000 of the families.
„ 8 districts 15 and under 20 families.
Such deaths occurred in 26.2 per 1000 of the families.
„ 7 districts 20 families and upwards.
Such deaths occurred in 27.G per 1000 of the families.
Again, although the tenancy of a house by several families evidently favours a
higher infant death-rate, the degree of this sort of crowding also has less influence
than with older children who associate in a manner that young infants do not.
4. Influence of closeness of buildings, and its attendant circumstances.
In the 11 most open districts such deaths occurred in 19.1 per 1000 of the families.
„ 6 closer „ „ „ 28.8 „ „
„ 4 closest „ „ „ 27.5 „ ,,
A distinct influence is here again apparent, but to a less extent than with older
children. It would seem as if there were some cause thus arising operating both
upon very young infants and upon older children ; probably deficiency of sun light
and general atmospheric deterioration; but that in the case of older children an
additional cause is to be found in the want of sufficient room for exercise and play
in the open air.
It is a common taunt that "anything may be proved by statistics;" and no
doubt a man whose data are too limited in number, who selects his facts unfairly, who
observes them inaccurately, and groups them carelessly, or who dishonestly seeks to
convince rather than to discover the truth, is apt to fall into error himself, and to lead
others astray also. But in medical matters there is a test applicable to arithmetical
results, the application of which I cannot better express than in the words of Dr.
Beneke, of Marburg: "The numbers in which the results of our researches are
expressed, carry with them intrinsically, more or less of our confidence, in proportion
as they agree or not with general physiological or medical experience. If such an
agreement be wanting, both experimenter and critic will alike, and with justice, feel
equal doubt with regard to the results obtained. If on the other hand, the
harmony with well-known physiological facts is evident, there will be less doubt;
and however much further examination may be desirable, the result obtained will
nevertheless, on independent grounds, deserve consideration as throwing light upon
the question under investigation."
Dealing as a Health-officer necessarily at present does very much with the
statistics of mortality, those whom he addresses are very apt to forget that he uses
them merely as an index of the current amount of debility and disease amongst the
population, whose health it is his business to investigate. Local sanitary boards are
not established for the mere purpose of saving alive so many children to grow up as
useful and productive member* of the commonwealth, nor even solely to prevent th