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The greatest reduction was noticed in the age period 1—5
years when only 55 deaths occurred as compared with 102 in
1909. It is true that this age period is not a productive one
but it is not sufficiently recognised how important this age-period
is. The diseases which kill infants affect a still larger number
of the survivors, leaving behind sequelae which so affect the
tissues as to create a favourable ground or nidus for subsequent
disease.
Among infants under one year of age, there was a decrease
of seven. The deaths of infants under 12 months are dealt with
in a subsequent paragraph.
Ward Distribution.—
North-East. North-West. South-East. South-West.
132 125 149 217
Based upon the estimated population of each Ward, the
death rate for 1,000 was:—
North-Bast. North-West. South-East. South-West.
8.8 8.9 9.9 15.5
Compared with 1909, the death rate is slightly higher in
the North-East Ward, and slightly lower in the North-West
Ward. It is in the South-East and South-West Wards that the
reduced death rate is most noticeable. When comparing the
death rate in these wards with that of previous years, it should
be remembered that the boundaries of these wards were rearranged,
and a portion of the South-West Ward was transferred
to the South-East Ward. The death rate in the South-East
Ward is 1.6 per 1,000 lower than it was in 1909, and in the
South-West Ward it is 3.6 per 1,000 lower.
For some time particular attention has been paid to the
South-West Ward, and during the past two years, a considerable
amount of house-to-house inspection has been made in the Ward.
It is only fair to infer that the improvement is mostly due to the
improved sanitary conditions which obtain as a result of the