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8
Some small allowance must be made for the fact that the
Union Infirmary is situated outside the district.
So far as the general decline in the birth-rate is to be
ascribed to this contributory cause it must be contemplated
with satisfaction. In the last four years nearly one-half the
illegitimate children born in Acton died before reaching the
age of 12 months.
Last year out of the 29 children born out of wedlock,
five died before reaching the age of 12 months. These figures
represent an infantile mortality of 172 per 1,000 births.
In 1908 the infantile mortality amongst illegitimate
children was 404 per 1,000 births; in 1907 480per 1,000; and
in 1906 564 per 1,000.
Another factor that has operated in the production of a
lower birth-rate is the higher age at which women enter
into matrimony. Throughout the kingdom the average age
at which persons marry is higher than formerly, and as a
result the number of years spent by women of child-bearing
age in wedlock has been proportionately diminished. As far
as this directly affects the birth-rate there will be few who
regret the loss resulting from a cause which has been accepted
as a desirable change.
These two factors, though, are not the most important in
the reduction of the birth-rate. We learn from the RegistrarGeneral's
report that the operation of these combined causes
accounts for only 21 per cent. of the decline in the birth-rate.
There are sufficient grounds for stating that during the past
30 years approximately 14 per cent. of the decline in the birthrate
(based on the proportion of births to the female population
aged 15—45 years) is due to the decrease in the population of
married women in the female population of conception ages,
and that over seven per cent. is due to decrease of illegitimacy.
With regard to the remaining 79 per cent. of the decrease,
although some of the reduced fertility may be ascribed to