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71
In three eases labour occurred at six months, 28
weeks and 38 weeks, one of which was an induction—
no cause is given for one of six months gestation, for the
28 weeks Albuminuria is given and a macerated foetus
represented the 38 weeks gestation.
It has been the practice of this department for some
years to obtain a history of the pregnancy, confinement
and puerperium in all cases where stillbirths have
occurred ; this information, in course of time, should
prove of value and will, we hope, enable causes predisposing
to stillbirths to be reduced.
Infant Mortality.
103 infants under one year of age died during the
year, giving an infant mortality rate of 55.23 per 1,000
live births, compared with that of 57 for England and
Wales and 58 for London. The rate amongst legitimate
children was 55.43, while for illegitimate children it was
46.51,
There has been a marked drop in the infant
mortality of illegitimate children; it will be noticed that
this is below that for legitimate infants. Usually one
expects the illegitimate infant mortality rate to be
high. Various circumstances, most of which arc economic,
account for this. It must be remembered also, that as
the figures to be considered are comparatively small,
a slight variation in the number of deaths materially
alters the rate per thousand. These figures are those
supplied by the Registrar-General.
Neo-natal deaths: there were 45 deaths of infants
under one month of age, this giving a neo-natal rate of
24.13 and constituting 43.7 per cent. of the total of the
infants who died before attaining the age of one year.
It will be seen that the total number of neo-natal deaths
has increased by three, but as the infant deaths taken