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population, a rate lower than that of the country
generally, which was 20.5 for the same period.
The number of deaths registered was 1,522 as compared
with 1,481 for the previous year giving a death rate of 9.59
per thousand population as compared with a death rate for
England and Wales of 12.0.
The infantile mortality rate, that being the number of
deaths of infants per thousand live births, reached a record
low figure of 27, as compared with 41 for the country generally.
In my last Annual Report I stated that the infantile
mortality rate which was then 29, had reached a figure in
which further material reduction was unlikely, excepting in
the light of increased knowledge. Despite the slight reduction
which has taken place I believe that statement to be still true.
The causes of the high infantile mortality which prevailed for
many years, namely, parental ignorance and lack of care, have
been almost entirely eliminated, the deaths now taking place
being largely concerned with prematurity and congenital
defects. These in turn have been reduced by more intensive
ante-natal care of the expectant mother and by the operation
of the scheme in force for the preservation of the lives of
premature infants. The following Table shows the decline
in infantile mortality since the beginning of the century:—