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19
Infantile Mortality.
Twenty-one babies died before reaching the end of the
first year of life. This figure gives a remarkably low
Infantile Mortality Rate of 27.7 per 1,000 babies, which
is the lowest rate ever recorded in Bromley.
I would refer those interested in the causation of
infant deaths to Appendices IV., V. and VI., wherein I
have tabulated the ages and causes of baby deaths. It
will there be seen that as many as 11 of these babies died
within four weeks of birth, nine of whom died in the first
few days. This is indicative of the causation being during
birth or immediately before birth, so that if one is to
reduce the mortality, one must continue to stress better
midwifery, better care of the newly born and the extension
of the practice of ante-natal hygiene.
Those deaths of babies which occur after the fourth
week are mainly due to respiratory disease, and the
prevention here lies with the protection of the child
against contracting the parental or adult infection.
One unfortunately meets with the negligent parent
who persistently refuses the advice of the health visitor.
A case in point is that of a baby who died in 1935 at four
months after birth. The health visitor reported at one
month: "A difficult mother who refuses advice.
Inclined to listen to neighbours' advice. Feeds irregularly
and wrongly." At two months, " Does not wish for
visits." At three months, " Admitted to hospital for
malnutrition." At four months, " Died in hospital."