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48
(b) For Ringworm. Positive. Negative.
Total Examinations—13 7 6
(c) For Tubercle. Positive. Negative.
Total Examinations—142 25 117
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Infantile Mortality.
Thirty-nine deaths occurred in infants under one year,
corresponding to an infantile mortality of 41 per 1,000 births.
This is the lowest number of deaths under one year of age
on record for the district.
There is a drop of 9 deaths from Premature Birth, but an
increase of 4 in the deaths from Congenital Heart Disease.
Eighteen of the deaths occurred before the baby had reached
the age of 1 month.
Twelve of the deaths were in the North East Ward, 9 in the
North West, 3 in the South East and 15 in the South West Ward.
This is the lowest infantile mortality recorded in the district;
the next lowest was that of 1933, when it was 46 per 1,000 births.
On no other occasion has the infantile mortality been below 50 per
1,000 births.
There were 3 more deaths in infants over 1 month, and 3 less
in infants under one month.
If the Infantile Mortality tables for several years be examined,
it will be seen that if further advance be made in infantile
mortality it must be by the reduction of deaths under 1 month, the
so-called neo-natal mortality. So far the factors which have played
a part in bringing down the under-one-year rate have hitherto had
much less effect upon the loss of life of infants under one month.
The great reduction in infantile mortality has been effected in the
period 1-12 months. It will be easily understood that the
measures first adopted for Infant Welfare—such as health-visiting
and its attendant activities—would have more effect upon the older
babies than in those under the age of one month. It is upon the