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pneumonia, and 44 to diseases unclassified or ill-defined, such
as convulsions, suffocation, over-laying, &c.
Premature Birth—or Immaturity, was the cause attributed
to 65 or 16.6 per cent. of the recorded infant deaths, compared
with 57 in 1905. This classification does not refer to stillborn
infants, but to those living at birth and surviving various
periods from a few hours to several days. It will be easily
understood that owing to the infants' immaturity and consequent
lack of vitality, the mortality amongst such children must
be exceedingly high.
How to check the serious wastage of infant life remains
a difficult problem. In Lewisham over 11 per cent. of the
children born in 1906 succumbed, in many instances before
attaining the age of four weeks. In some less fortunate and
poorer districts of London 16 per cent. died. In some of the
manufacturing towns a much greater loss occurred.
Environment.—Circumstances affecting the infant
mortality rate are numerous, among them being the conditions
under which mothers exist during the anti-natal period. Young
mothers have yet to learn the importance of living under strict
hygienic rules during this period, including the avoidance of
alcoholic excess, the necessity of good and suitable food, the
enjoyment of fresh air and moderate exercise.
Natural or Artificial Feeding.—As might be expected,
the mortality is highest among infants artificially fed. It is
satisfactory to note, however, that there appears to be a greater
willingness and desire amongst mothers to feed their children
with breast milk. Our investigations at the homes clearly
establish this fact, and there is reason to believe that some good
has followed the circulation of educational pamphlets to homes
where births occur. That there still exists lamentable
ignorance among many mothers is evident from the fact that a