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15
The Causes of Infantile Mortality.—The comparatively
slow rate of decrease of infantile mortality in England
and Wales is one of the most unsatisfactory features in vital
returns that health officers are called upon to face. There is
no gainsaying that despite any improved conditions of life
among the poorer section of the community (with whom
infantile mortality is always at its highest) and despite improved
general sanitation, the rate of mortality under 1 year of age
will continue to bear a very high proportion to the general
death-rate; but the great discrepancy shown between the
rate of different London parishes furnishes abundant evidence
that there are many causes at work—acting unequally in the
different districts—which are preventable.
The excessive mortality from Whooping Cough is the
most notable feature in the causes of Infantile Mortality as set
forth in Table A3.