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1921
7
The infantile mortality was 70 per 1,000 births—a rate
higher than that of 1920. There was a slight decrease in the number
of deaths from diphtheria, but the number—16—is still considerably
higher than it has been since the commencement of the war. There
was one death from Scarlet Fever; this was the first death from the
disease in the district since 1915. There was an extensive outbreak
of Scarlet Fever, particularly in the autumn.
There was no death from Measles, and the district was almost
entirely free from the disease.
Amount of Poor Law Relief—I am indebted to Mr. Harmsworth,
the Clerk to the Guardians, for the figures relating to PoorLaw
Relief.
The amount of out-door relief given by the Guardians for
the Parish of Acton was:—
Ordinary Relief, £5,061 15s. 11½d.
Relief to Unemployed, £15,019 5s. 6d.
The effect of unemployment upon the Council's Milk Scheme
and the Guardians' assistance in the latter part of the year will be
referred to in the section upon Milk Distribution.
Infantile Mortality—Ninety-two deaths occurred in children
under one year of age. This number corresponds to an infantile
mortality of 70 per 1,000 births.' The ward distribution and the
and incidence of the deaths, and the infantile mortality in England
and Wales and the 96 great towns are given in the Tables at the
end of the report.
The infantile mortality was 6 per 1,000 births higher than
that of 1920, and this enhanced rate was entirely due to the increased
number of deaths from Summer Diarrhoea.
Summer Diarrhoea—Twenty-nine deaths occurred from
Summer Diarrhoea in children under two years of age. This
is a higher figure than that of recent years. Prior to 1921, the last
very dry hot summer was that of 1911. In that year 89 deaths
occurred from diarrhoea in children under two years of age. For
the years 1897,1898 and 1899, the Infantile Mortality in Acton was
198, 182 and 187 per 1,000 births respectively, and the number
of deaths from Diarrhoeal diseases in these years was very high. In
1911 a great improvement had taken place and it is interesting
to compare the conditions which obtained in 1911 and 1921. The