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108
The National Death Returns furnish conclusive evidence of
the need for more maternity work whether one compares the
figures of infantile or maternal mortality. Nearly all the deaths
in the first week of life, and most of those in the first month of
life, are due to natal or ante-natal causes, and that this sacrifice of
lives is largely avoidable is shown by the great variations in the
above death rates in different districts of the country. As
Miss Aldridge says in her statement upon the Infant Care Work,
the necessity of safeguarding child life at its origin, upon which
depends the health and vigour of survivors at adult ages, appeals
with tenfold earnestness when we are called upon to face the
heavy losses of our nation's manhood in times of war.
Recognising the inability of many Authorities to bear the
entire cost of adequate schemes for the promotion of maternity
and child-welfare, the Local Government Board has applied for
Treasury sanction for the apportionment of drafts in respect of
this work. This wise action of the Central Authority is much
needed if Infant Care Work is to be extended as fully as its great
public health importance demands. During the year it is
proposed, with the co-operation of the local midwives, to extend
the work of the Infant Care Department to expectant mothers.
We are greatly indebted to Dr. New, Miss Eve, Miss Webb,
Miss Stevens, and Mrs. Barker, for their valuable assistance, as
Voluntary Workers, in this Infant Care Work.
SENILE MORTALITY.—Of the 621 deaths, 251 were of
persons over 65 years af age. The proportion of deaths occurring
among those of over 65 years of age to the total deaths is, therefore,
40.4 per cent. There were 187 deaths of persons over 70
years of age, and 68 of persons over 80, 12 of whom reached
90 years of age—the oldest being 96.
This is a remarkably high proportion of deaths over 65 years
of age, which indicates that there is a relatively large number
of old persons in the Borough.