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32
1906
1907
1908
Premature Birth
12
19
9
Atrophy, etc.
21
18
24
Bronchitis and Pneumonia .
7
14
17
Diarrhœa
41
11
25
Enteritis and Gastritis
9
—
—
Convulsions
16
7
4
The Infantile Mortality rate for the year 1908 was 117, and
the rate for the 10 years 1908 to 1907 was 155 per 1000 births
registered. In 1907 the rate was 112, and that in a very cool
summer, whereas in 1908 the summer was hot and the deaths
from epidemic diarrhoea were more than double, but in spite of
this the rate only rose 5 points. This is, to my mind, most
encouraging.
Half the infantile mortality appears to be due to premature
birth, atrophy, bronchitis and convulsions, and most of these deaths
are admittedly caused by the inability of the infant to digest and
assimilate its food. Another third of the deaths were registered
as due to diarrhœa in all its forms, so that improper food, want of
care, &c., account for a large proportion of the mortality rate. The
work of the Lady Health Visitor and the provision of sound,
healthy, food is, I feel convinced, making a difference already in
the town, and in a few years the infantile mortality rate which
has been for so long the one bad item in our mortality returns
will have been reduced to a normal and reasonable level.