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73
Neo-natal deaths: there were 47 deaths of infants under one
month of age, this being a neo-natal mortality rate of 23.7 and
constituting 40 per cent. of the total infant mortality rate. Of these
deaths, 20 occurred within 24 hours of birth. In 13 of these the
infant was premature; in 4 the death was due to injuries received
at birth; two deaths were due to congenital abnormalities, and
one infant died from want of attention at birth. Of the remaining
16 infants who died within one week of birth, 7 died becausc of
congenital abnormality (including 3 from haemorrhage neonatorum
and 2 from congenital heart lesions) ; in 5 cases the birth was premature
and in 2 eases the infant, though born at full time, was
feeble. 2 deaths were attributable to birth injuries, prematurity
accounted for 3 deaths and debility for one of the infants who
survived one week but died before the end of the first month. The
commonest cause of death at this age was bronchitis or pneumonia,
which, between them, were the reputed causes of 6 out of the 13
deaths at these ages.
13 infants died between the first and third months. Developmental
and congenital abnormalities accounted for four of these
deaths and marasmus for two ; but most deaths were due to infections,
chest conditions in two, gastro-enteritis in three and
meningitis in two.
21 infants survived three, but died before they were six months
old. Gastro-enteritis caused the death of 12 of these and tubercular
meningitis 3. Chest conditions and debility accounted for
two each, and developmental causes, malnutrition and cellulitis
one each.
28 deaths occurred in infants between 6 and 12 months of age.
Measles accounted for 5, whooping cough 6, pneumonia 9 and gastroenteritis
4 of these cases.
Deaths of Older Children.
28 children died in their second year. of these the primary
cause of death was measles in 10 instances, and whooping cough
in 2. Six deaths, certified as being due to pneumonia, occurred at
the time that measles was prevalent , but no history ot measles could
be obtained. Apart from these eases, pneumonia or bronchitis
accounted for three other deaths and gastro-enteritis resulted in
the same number. Tubercular meningitis caused the death of one
child.
Of 10 deaths of children in their third year, measles accounted
lor 5, whooping cough, erysipelas and tubercular meningitis for
one each.