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29
In Lewisham there was a marked increase over the rate
for the previous year, owing to an outbreak of Epidemic
Diarrhoea during the summer months, favoured by the excessive
summer heat. The infant mortality rate for the borough
amounted to 113 per 1,000 births, compared with 93 in the
preceding year, and 113 the mean for the five years 1901-1905.
On reference to Table A in the Appendix it will be seen
that with the exception of the years 1903 and 1905 the rate
recorded this year is the lowest. Chart A shows distinctly the
effect of the continued high temperature in relation to infantile
diarrhoea deaths when examined in conjunction with the
maximum and mean summer temperatures recorded in
Table 20.
During the year 391 deaths occurred among children
under one year, compared with 338 in 1905.
Of the total infant deaths the greater proportion, 147 or
37.6 per cent. were attributed to Wasting Diseases under which
heading the following are included:—Premature Birth, Congenital
Defects, Injury at Birth, Want of Breast Milk, Atrophy,
Debility, Marasmus, Asthenia, Inanition, Malnutrition.
Diarrhoeal diseases, which include all forms of diarrhoea,
enteritis not tuberculous, gastritis, gasto-intestinal catarrh,
gastro-enteritis, muco-enteritis, were responsible for 123 or 31.5
per cent. of the total.
Diseases in both these classes are to a very great extent
preventable diseases.
Three deaths were certified as Measles and 12 Whooping
Cough, compared with 8 and 13 respectively in 1905. Fourteen
deaths were due to some form of tubercular disease (consumption),
46 to respiratory diseases, either bronchitis, laryngitis, or