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6
Infantile Mortality.—There were 25 deaths of infants
under 1 year of age 62 of them illegitimate), which gives an
infantile death-rate of 357 per 1,000 births registered, as against
521 in the preceding year, 26.8 in 1918, 55.7 in 1917, and 36 in
1916. The average rate for the 10 years 1910-1919 was 531.
In Table IV. are set forth the causes of deaths of infants
under one year of age (in weeks and months) from which it will
be seen that 60 per cent. of the deaths were of newly born infants
in the first week of life, and 84 per cent. under one month old,
and were due to premature birth, congenital defects, debility, and
wasting. It should also be noted in this connection that there
were 18 still-births notified.
Theoretically most, and practically some at least of these
deaths should be preventible: but there is little evidence in this
Table of any gross ignorance or neglect of personal health or care
for their offspring on the part of the mothers. It is doubtful
whether it is possible to reach a much lower infantile death-rate
than 25 per 1,000 births in any ordinary average community until
human nature becomes so perfect in physique, morals, and education
as to be beyond attainment—in the present age at any rate.
I am of opinion that prohibition of alcohol, if it were
feasible, or from every point of view desirable in this country as
a whole, would do more towards lowering the infantile deathrate
than any other measure.
This opinion is supported by the experience of Canada
during the last few years.
This is, however, no reason why our efforts in otherdirections
should relax, but rather the reverse. It is necessary to constantly
strive after the ideal, by constant effort all along the line and from
every point of view. With this aim, it is desirable, in order to
help to reduce the infantile mortality within the first month of
life to the lowest possible rate, that an ante-natal clinic in
connection with the maternity and child welfare centres should
be established as soon as practicable.
Senile Mortality.—Among persons of 70 years of ige and
over, 118 deaths occurred, and, of these, 40 were 80 years of age
and over. This is a proportion of 33 per cent, of the total
number of deaths at all ages.