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59
any overcrowding would doubtless result in the saving of many
lives. On the parents' part, a truer appreciation of the infectivity
of the common cold and of its deleterious effects on the young, and
of the importance of extreme care of infants whose chests are in
any degree affected, would do much to prevent the loss of these
lives.
Gastro-enteritis was an unimportant factor as a cause of infant
mortality. This was expected in view of the low mean summer
temperature.
Until the latter part of the year, the district was comparatively
free from measles and whooping cough, with a result that measles
appeared on the death certificate only once in the case of a child
under one year of age and not at all in those of ages of one to 5.
Whooping cough accounted for a total of 8 deaths in those under
one year of age.
Deaths of Older Children.
Of children in the second year of life, slightly fewer died this
year than last. Chest conditions again were the chief cause,
accounting for 15 out of the 27 deaths. Whooping cough and
tuberculosis accounted for 3 deaths each.
Ot the 13 deaths of those in the third year, diphtheria accounted
lor 2 and whooping cough one. Chest conditions accounted for
only 3, and for a similar low figure in each of the next years of life.
Ihe deaths amongst those of 3 and 4 years of age were higher than
last year, but due to no one particular cause, the largest group of 5
being that of diphtheria in the fourth year.

11 eases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were notified in the course
of the year. In addition, in another 49 cases, a copy was received
of the medical aid notice sent to the County Medical Olficer by the
midwife. No cases, apparently, occurred where a doctor was in
attendance at birth.
All cases are investigated by the Health Visitors on receipt ol
information and are visited reguiarly until the eyes arc clear.