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32
Causes of Death.—During the year 325 de iths occurred
among children under one year, compared with 391 in 1906.
Of these 325 deaths, 92 were recorded as due to conditions
which must be considered unavoidable, namely, Premature
Birth (68) Congenital Defects and Injury at Birth.
Again, 70 were registered under the headings of Atrophy,
Debility, and Marasmus, diseases mainly due to errors of feeding.
Bronchitis and Pneumonia were responsible for 47, Suffocation
and Overlaying for nine deaths, diseases which in all probability
could have been prevented.
Diarrhœal diseases, which include all forms of diarrhoea,
enteritis not tuberculous, gastritis, gasto-intestinal catarrh,
gastro-enteritis, muco-enteritis, to a very great extent preventable
diseases, were responsible for 41.
Two deaths were certified as Measles and 18 Whooping
Cough, compared with 3 and 12 respectively in 1906. Nine
deaths were due to some form of tubercular disease (consumption),
and 37 to diseases unclassified or ill-defined, such as convulsions.
Illegitimacy.—The deaths among illegitimate children
showed a marked improvement in 1907. There were registered
during the year 92 illegitimate births. The infant mortality of
such children under one year amounted to nine. In 1906 there
were 82 illegitimate births with a mortality of 14.
Combative Measures.—Although the seasonal influences
were favourable to a low rate, I am inclined to think other
factors were also at work. For some years past an endeavour
has been made to educate the poorer mothers of the district in
the successful management of their children, and although much
ignorance still prevails among not only the working classes but
amongst all classes, a marked improvement has occurred. This