View report page

The Infantile Mortality Rate for England and Wales was 59 in
1936, and 57, 59 and 64 in the three preceding years, the figure for 1935
being the lowest on record. The averages for 1915-24 and 1924-35
were approximately 83 and 67.
The causes of death in the 21 infants under one year of age who
died in 1936 were:—
Peritonitis—idiopathic purulent 1
Enteritis-infective 1
Birth injuries 2
Congenital defects (heart or spinal) 5
Atelectasis, prematurity or marasmus 8
Ditto with Broncho-pneumonia 2
Post operative (intussusception) 1
Measles 1
Of these children, 18 were under three months, 15 under one month
and 13 not more than one week old at death.
The neo-natal mortality rate (i.e., deaths within the first month
per thousand live births) was thus 23.
While only a small number, and the same as last year, the group
due to birth injury, together with some of the deaths classified as due
to prematurity, etc., are those which it is hoped skilled ante-natal and
natal attention will prevent. The infective group should be those most
easily prevented and hence those most deplored in the above list.
The following Table shows the Populations, Births, Birth Rates,
Deaths, Death Rates and Infantile Mortality Rates for each of the past
ten years:—