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61
centage of the cases investigated, however, there was evidence to
show that thehealth of the mother was unsatisfactory and in nearly
50 per cent, of the cases the child was premature.
Of the 36 children who died during the first four weeks of
life, it was found possible to investigate 22. In all cases the home
was satisfactory and in 21 cases there appeared to be sufficient
ante-natal care. The health of the mother was recorded as
unsatisfactory in nine cases, and labour was premature in a similar
number.
Generally it was found impossible to come to any definite
conclusion as to the general cause of death, but it is to be noted
that seven of these 22 children died of Broncho-Pneumonia.
Twenty-two cases of children dying between the ages of
one month and one year were also investigated. It is interesting
to note that only nine of these children were breast-fed. GastroEnteritis
accounted for eight deaths. The majority of the cases
attended at one of the Council's Welfare Clinics.
Congenital malformation, a non-preventable cause, accounted
for four deaths, whilst two of the children who died of BronchoPneumonia,
were imbeciles.
Investigations were carried out in the case of six children who
died between the ages of one and five years. It is interesting to
note that none of them was completely breast-fed for the first
nine months of life, and only two partially breast-fed.
It is difficult to form a conclusion from the small numbers
quoted above, but generally it would appear that lack of breastfeeding,
prematurity and congenital malformation, diseases of the
lespiratory system and Gastro-Enteritis, account for a large number
of deaths in young children.
During the year there were recorded in Enfield 59 illegitimate
births, and 14 deaths of illegitimate children. This gave an
infantile mortality rate of 241.37 per 1,000.
This figure is so inordinately high as to call for some
investigation.
I find that five of the 14 children who died were resident at
Chase Farm Homes. It must be remembered that this Institution
serves not only Enfield but the whole of Middlesex, and accepts
children who are in a weakly state. It is possible that in many
cases their condition is the cause of their admittance to the
Institution.
One of these children was premature and another was marasmic.
Children of this description stand very little chance when they are
exposed to infection.
Of the remaining nine, bronchc-pneumonia is recorded as