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A new table (Table V., p. 60) has been issued this year by the
Local Government Board, which enables the deaths among infants
under one year old, from certain causes, to be recorded in weeks and
months of age. The information collected by this means for the
whole country will prove of great value in indicating the true
significance that should be attached to the mortality in the various
age groups.
The table shows that in the first month the bulk of the deaths
were due to what are termed "wasting diseases." These are
conditions that, for the most part manifest themselves at the birth
of the infant, and depend on ante-natal circumstances associated
with the health of the mother, rather than on any external influence
to which the child becomes subject after birth, such, for example,
as improper feeding, clothing, &c. Although adverse external
influences may begin to operate from the moment of birth, it is not,
as shown by the table, until the second month of life that they begin
to give rise to deaths in any significant numbers.
The system instituted in 1904, whereby each household where a
birth has taken place is visited by the Woman Inspector immediately
on the receipt of the weekly notifications from the District Registrar,
has been continued throughout the year.
In all, 1,277 births were visited in this way and at the same time
the pamphlet on infant feeding, a copy of which will be found in
the appendix, was given to the mother and the chief points to be
observed explained to her. A second visit was made when the