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9
changes in the age constitution of married women, there can
be little doubt that much of it is due to deliberate restrictions
of child-bearing. The fact is also significant that at the last
Census period, 1900—02, the fertility of English wives was
lower than that recorded in any European country, except
France.
It is this restriction of child-bearing among English wives
which calls forth the fulmination of some class of people each
time the Registrar-General makes a report, but a statistical
phenomenon can in itself hardly ever be an object of approval
or opprobium.
Upon the whole question of a falling birth-rate we are
not inclined to express an opinion, but there is an aspect of it
which is of interest to all hygienists, and to which attention
might profitably be called.
Everyone admits that a high infantile mortality is
hygienically and economically unsound. Infantile mortality
is an extreme expression of inefficient breeding and nurture.
It is a phenomenon which can be measured in figures, but one
of the causes of a high infantile mortality gives birth to other
results, which, though less tangible and apparent, are as real
and of more importance to the nation. The unaided mother
of a family, even when she is fortunate enough to escape
being a contributory wage-earner, can rarely do justice to the
numerous progeny which she is capable of bearing. It may
be admitted that the birth-rate in the North-West Ward is too
low, but no one will argue that in the South-West Ward a
still further reduction would be a calamity. Last year the
birth-rate per 1,000 of the population in the different wards
was as follows:—
North-East. North West. South-East. South-West.
228 17.6 26.7 37.4
With the exception of the South-East Ward, the birthrate
in all the Wards has been steadily undergoing a reduction.
In like manner. the infantile mortality in the three Wards was