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13
Though the yearly variations in the infantile mortality rate are
largely due to variations in the number of deaths from " diarrhoeal "
diseases, it will be seen that the favourable rate in 1905 was not
due to this alone, the infantile mortality rate from other than
" diarrhoeal " diseases being 17 per thousand less than in 1904, and
13 per thousand less than in 1903.
Table V has been added at the request of the Local Government
Board to show the precise age at which infants under one
year of age die from certain selected diseases.
DEATH CERTIFICATION.—All deaths in the Borough were
certified by the Medical Attendant or by the Coroner.
INQUESTS were held in 145 instances, or 7.7 per cent of the
total deaths.
THE ASSIGNED CAUSES OF DEATH are fully set out in
Tables IV., Y. and VI., but certain of them require special comment.
SMALL POX.—During the year 1905 no single case of small
pox was notified in the Borough. This is the first year we have
been so fortunate since 1899.
CROYDON AND WIMBLEDON JOINT SMALL POX HOSPITAL.—
The Small Pox Hospital District now comprises the County Borough
of Croydon, the Borough of Wimbledon, the Urban District of
Penge, and the Croydon Rural District. Only five patients were
admitted during the year, viz.:—Two from the districts owning the
hospital, one from the Epsom Rural District, one from the Godstone
Rural District, and one from the District of the Bromley and
Beckenham Hospital Board. The last case was admitted under a
temporary arrangement made with that Board pending the completion
of their Small Pox Hospital. The case from the Godstone
Rural District was admitted at the urgent request of that authority,
and at considerable inconvenience to the hospital staff. Though
the Urban and Rural Districts of Surrey have been combined under
the Isolation Hospitals Acts in order to provide hospital accommodation
for small-pox, no active steps seem to have, been taken in
the matter. In the meantime the Joint Board has, in 1905 and in
previous years, come to the rescue of many of these authorities, who
should now come to some permanent arrangement with the Board
or provide a separate hospital.