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40
The infantile mortality in each ward would be:—
North-East Ward 82 per 1,000 deaths
North-West Ward 121 ,, „ „
South East Ward 88 ,, „ „
South-West Ward 155 „ „ ,,
The infantile mortality is 10 per 1,000 lower than it was in 1906
and 1907.
Compared with 1907 the mortality is higher in the North-West
Ward, but lower in the three other wards.
There was a marked increase in the number of deaths from
Measles and Diarrhœal diseases and a more marked decrease in the
number of deaths from Bronchitis and Pneumonia.
The increase in the deaths from Measles has been referred to in
another paragraph.
There were 42 deaths from Diarrhoea and 14 from Enteritis.
In 1907 there were 22 infantile deaths from Diarrhceal Diseases
and in 1906 the number was 80.
There is an increase in the number of deaths from diarrhoeal
diseases as compared with 1907, and whatever views may be held as
to their causation their can be no doubt as to the beneficial influence
of an excessive rainfall. In this latter respect, 1908 compared
unfavourably with 1907. The amount of rainfall may be beyond the
control of a sanitary authority, but the manner in which a hot
summer operates upon the infantile mortality should teach us
something in the prevention of Diarrhceal diseases.
Out of the 42 children who died from diarrhoeal diseases only
2 were breast-fed. 18 were brought up on cow's milk, 14 on
condensed milk, and 8 on one or other of the patent foods on the
market.
It is difficult to estimate what percentage of the children are
breast-fed and hand-fed, but if we contrast the conditions in deaths
from respiratory diseases the above figures will appear significant.
Out of 21 deaths from Bronchitis and Pneumonia, 12 of the
children were breast-fed, 5 were fed on cow's milk, 2 on condensed
milk, and 2 on a patent food.