View report page

45
8. Of the 261 deaths under 1 year 54 were from debility at
birth, wasting, congenital defects and dentition, 28 from premature
birth, and 50 from diarrhœa and inflammation of the
bowels.
9. There were 402 deaths under 5 years, being 38 per cent,
of the total deaths, and 5-9 per 1,000 population.
10. The Zymotic death-rate (i.e., the rate from Small Pox,
Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Enteric Fever, Measles, Whooping
Cough, and Diarrhoea) was 2.1, compared with 1.3 in 1899, and
3.5 in 1898.
11. Uncertified deaths.—There were 29 uncertified deaths,
being 2.7 per cent, of totaldeaths, compared with 2.9, 1.3, 4.1,
and 3.4 in the four preceding years. Although this shews an
improvement on the two past years, it is still far above the
average for London and other large towns.
Eleven of the uncertified deaths were of children under 5
years of age: they included five infants under one month, whose
deaths were attributed by the Registrar to convulsions from
congenital debility. Such eases as these are frequently the
result of improper feeding, of neglect, or of syphilis, and it would
seem very desirable that an enquiry should be made into each
by a competent medical man, whether an inquest is held or not.
12. In continuance of the action described in my last report
on the subject of uncertified deaths and death registration, the
Health Committee of the late Vestry petitioned the Local
Government Board in favour of early legislation on the lines of
the Eeport of the Select Committee of Parliament published a
few years ago : all the London local authorities were requested
to take the same action.
A Special Eeport on this matter is appended to this Eeport.
I regret that His Majesty's Government have yet made no
mention of any proposed legislation in this connection,