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10
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The deaths of children under one year of age were at the rate of 61 per 1,000
births, as against 74 for the whole of London.
The table of infantile mortality on page 11 shows the deaths under one year
of age according to monthly age periods. From this it will be seen that IT per cent,
of these deaths occurred in the first month, 33 per cent, within the first three
months and 44 per cent, during the first six months of existence.
The figures in the City are so small that it is undesirable to use them as a basis
for any definite conclusions, but it is of interest to note that these percentages
show an extraordinary reduction compared with those reported in any previous
year. For example, last year 66 per cent, of infant deaths occurred during the
first month and during the year under review the percentage was only 11.
These figures rather suggest that the great saving in infant mortality which
has been a feature of recent years is as pronounced in the dangerous first month as
in subsequent months.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907, AND INFANT WELFARE WORK.
No new work has been undertaken in connection with Infant Welfare Work.
Care has, of course, continued to be given to the City infants and the usual clinic
has been held every Wednesday at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Supplies of milk,
in some cases at cost price and in others free, have been provided in accordance
with the scheme outlined in my last annual report.
383 notifications of births, made in accordance with the Notification of Births
Act, were received. Of these only 110 belonged to the City, and the balance were
transferred to the appropriate Authorities.
VITAL STATISTICS.
In the subjoined table comparisons are made between the vital statistics as
recorded in the City of London and those recorded in the Metropolis for the year
1922 and the previous five years. No reliable conclusions can be drawn from these
comparisons, and they are inserted merely as matters of interest.