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occurred during the first week of life has risen from 68.42 per cent.
in 1937, to 81.81 per cent. As I have remarked before, it may be
dangerous to draw definite conclusions from such small numbers
(11 deaths under 1 month, 9 of which were under 1 week), but I
feel it safe to infer that the fall in the percentage of deaths under
1 month indicates increased benefit from pre-natal supervision ; while
the rise in the figure for deaths under 1 week points to a larger
proportion of infant deaths occurring from non-preventable causes.
Prematurity accounted for only 1 infant death, while pneumonia
was responsible for 9 and congenital malformations for 2.
All infant deaths were investigated.
Stillbirths.—Twenty-seven stillbirths, none of which was
illegitimate, were accredited to the district for 1938. This is equal
to a death-rate of 33.75 per 1,000 total (live and still) births
registered, the corresponding figures for 1937 being 18 stillbirths,
with a rate of 26.63.
It is to be regretted that there should be an increase of 9 in
the number of stillbirths, and 7.12 in the stillbirth-rate. It is
extremely difficult to ascertain the reason for this increase, which
may be a purely temporary phenomenon. I hope to report further
on this matter in the light of more recent statistics.
Maternal Mortality.—The maternal mortality rate—i.e., the
number of mothers dying as the result of childbirth per 1,000 total
(live and still) births—was 1.25 for 1938. This represents 1
maternal death, which occurred in the Southgate Isolation Hospital,
the confinement having taken place in a local nursing home. Last
year there were 3 deaths, with a corresponding rate of 4.44.
Mortality of "Toddlers"—i.e., children between the ages of
1 and 5 years. Amongst children of 1 to 5 years of age there were
6 deaths during 1938. This represents a corrected death-rate of
0.09 per 1,000 of the total population, and 0.93 per cent. of the
total deaths for the year, at all ages. In 1937 there were 4 deaths,
giving a rate of 0.06 and a percentage of 0.56.
Mortality of Persons over the age of 65.—It will be observed
from Table II, on page 14, that appreciably more than 50 per cent.
of the total deaths occurring during the year took place in persons
over the age of 65 (58.11 per cent.). In this connection, it is
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