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5
Year
Total legitimate
maternities
First maternities as a
per cent, of total
maternities
Average number of
previous maternities
(live or still)
Stillbirth
rate
1939 606,203 42.0 1.42 37.8
1940 592,634 43.1 1.39 36.1
1941 558,205 44.3 1.38 34.4
1942 625,985 45.4 1.27 33.0
On the other hand, the average age of females at marriage fell gradually from
26.05 in 1939 to 25.66 in 1942; but, while this would mean younger maternities
with a lower stillbirth risk, the change is relatively small. Unfortunately, the figures
stop short at 1942, and tell nothing about 1943 when the stillbirth rate fell from 33
to 30, a larger drop than ever previously recorded, and the rate in London fell from
29.3 to 24.6, a sharper fall still. Since 1943, the London (and the national) stillbirth
rate has declined very gradually, so that the fall in 1943 can only be explained by
reference to some sudden and permanent change in ante-natal conditions or in the
average calibre of mothers in late 1942 or early 1943. With regard to nutrition, the
egg priority to expectant mothers began in the winter of 1941-42, but no information
is available as to the timing of the full effect of this scheme, nor is there any measure
of the extra number of eggs coming into the family where there was an expectant
mother. The distribution of vitamin preparations was extended to expectant
mothers later in 1942, but there is doubt as to the effect owing to the fact that the
take-up of the vitamin supplements was disappointing—for fruit juices it has not
exceeded 46 per cent, of the potential issue, while for cod-liver oil the corresponding
figure is 21 per cent.
No clues can be sought in the causes of stillbirths because these are not officially
recorded in this country. Causes of stillbirth are recorded in Scotland, but the pattern
of movement of the stillbirth rate in that country has been different from that experienced
in England and Wales. The following figures for Scotland do suggest,
however, that the major factor in the decline of the stillbirth rate has been an improvement
in the health of the mother, i.e., the risk attributable to disease of mother
has declined to a relatively greater extent than the other risks:—

lhe total civilian deaths in 1946 amounted to 39,103, or 12-6 per 1,000 of the Mortality
civil population. Detailed figures are given in tables 3, 4 and 5, on pages 18.21.
Mortality from infectious disease is discussed below under that heading, and tuberculosis
is dealt with separately. For the latter and other principal causes of death
the trend is indicated by the diagrams on page 7. The discontinuity between 1939
and 1940 is attributable to two causes. In the first place, the Registrar-General
abandoned the rules of selection which had hitherto operated in multiple causes of
death, and, as from 1940, accepted the principal cause of death as shown on the
medical certificate. In addition, the International List of Causes of Death, which
was revised in 1938. was applied in 1940 in accordance with international agreement.
The chief movements resulting from these alterations are estimated to be:—
B