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13
Of the 53 deaths three occurred in children over one year of
age (leaving 50 deaths of illegitimate infants). There were 108
illegitimate births during the year, so that the rate of infantile
mortality among illegitimate children amounts to 463 per 1,000,
as compared with a rate of 106 per 1,000 among legitimate
infants.
This high rate of mortality among illegitimate children is a
sad reflex of the fact that unwanted children can. under cover of
the law, be naturally eliminated—to use an euphemism which
shall decently cover the varied terms which label the manner of
their exits.
UNCERTIFIED DEATHS.
These numbered for the year nine. As I have repeatedly
pointed out, uncertified deaths offer the readiest loophole for
undetected homicide. The high mortality among illegitimate
children shows to what an extent undesired lives can be got rid
of. Unless a medical certificate of the cause of death is forthcoming,
I am strongly of opinion that an inquest should be held. Whatever
discretion may be left to a coroner in rural districts where medical
attendance is not always procurable within short notice, such discretion
should not be exercised in, or in the suburbs of a large
city.
In this the Middlesex Coroner frankly disagrees with me, and
a somewhat lengthy correspondence has failed to bring us to see
the question eye to eye.
The nine uncertified deaths, however, compare favourably
with the 14 of last year, though they still leave us to share with
Lej'ton the distinction of possessing the highest number of
uncertified deaths of any of the large urban communities in the
outer circle of London.