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Wandsworth 97. The highest in Bermondsey 144, Shoreditch
139, Finsbury 133, Bethnal Green 132, Southwark 131, and
Stepney 130.
In the Borough of Lewisham the infant mortality rate
amounted to 87 per 1,000 births, compared with 90 in the preceding
year, and 105, the mean rate for t.lie six years 1902-7.
This rate is the second lowest in London and the lowest rate
recorded in the history of Lewisham during any period for
which statistics are available.
Causes of Death.—During the year 315 deaths occurred
among children under one year, compared with 325 in 1907.
Of these 315 deaths, 70 were recorded as due to conditions
which must be considered unavoidable, namely, Premature
Birth (50) Congenital Defects and Injury at Birth.
Again, 64 were registered under the headings of Atrophy,
Debility, and Marasmus, diseases mainly due to errors of feeding.
Bronchitis and Pneumonia were responsible for 45, Suffocation
and Overlaying for eight deaths, diseases which in all probability
could have been prevented.
Diarrhoeal diseases, which include all forms of diarrhoea,
enteritis not tuberculous, gastritis, gastro-intestinal catarrh,
gastro-enteritis, muco-enteritis, to a very great extent preventable
diseases, were responsible for 49.
Seven deaths were certified as Measles and 17 Whooping
Cough, compared with 2 and 18 respectively in 1907. Thirteen
deaths were due to some form of tubercular disease (consumption),
and 3(i to diseases unclassified or ill-defined, such as convulsions.
The Percentage of deaths under three months to total deaths
under one year was practically the same, the figures being as
follows:—
Year 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908
Rate 56% 50% 57% 51% 58% 57%