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26
The rise in the Infantile Mortality Rate in the fiveyears
period 1916—1920 was due to the influenza epidemic
of 1918.
The reduction in the rate has occurred mainly in the
age group over one week of age, whereas the rate of deaths
in the newly-born remains constant, and there has been no
reduction since 1910 when the keeping of detailed records
was commenced.
It is generally claimed that the Infantile Mortality
Rate is the gauge by which the public health services of
a locality may be measured. If we are to judge the
effectiveness of our own efforts on this standard of
measurement then we may safely claim that the test does
credit to our services in Bromley.
The lowest Infantile Mortality Rate ever recorded in
Bromley was in 193.5 when it fell to 27. I reported then
that the rate was an abnormally low one and could not
continue on that low level. A rise duly occurred in 1936
and again in 1937. The rise in 1937 was due to the
increase in the deaths of young infants from intestinal
infection, co-inciding with the epidemic of dysentery in
the latter half of the year.

Biennial:
1936 & 1937 ... 2 ... 4 ... 4
Tables II, III and VI in the Appendix will be found
to contain statistical data regarding maternal mortality.
Whilst no immediate reduction in the rate may be
expected as a result of the new Maternity Service, it is
hoped that when the service has been functioning over a
few years that a reduction will occur not only in maternal
deaths, but also in the deaths allied to maternity such as
stillbirths and neo-natal deaths of infants,