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17
Woolwich Parish had the lowest rate yet recorded, the next
lowest having been in 1901. Its rate was for the first time
lower than in Plumstead.
17. Compared with 1901, the infant mortality was lower in
Woolwich and Eltham Parishes, and Dockyard, River, and St.
Margaret's Wards, and higher in Plumstead Parish, and in
St. Mary's, St. George's, Burrage, Herbert, Glyndon, and St.
Nicholas Wards.
18. The high infantile mortality in the North River Ward
is very marked, and partly explains the fact of the general
death rate being as high in North Woolwich as in River Ward,
South. From Table IV., we see that this high infant mortality
arises from deaths by diarrhoea, whooping cough, bronchitis,
premature birth, and "other nervous diseases" (mainly
convulsions). I am informed by the Borough Engineer, that
the sewers in North Woolwich are defective and have
insufficient fall. The County Council main out-fall having
been relaid at a lower level, a greater fall can now be obtained
in the Borough Sewers, and the Council is considering the
relaying of some of these sewers. I consider it is most
desirable that this should be done, and have no doubt the
result will be a great improvement in the infantile mortality of
this district.
19. Table VII. shows how Woolwich compares with other
Metropolitan Boroughs as respects infant mortality. Four
Boroughs only had a lower rate.
Zymotic Death Rate.
20. The Zymotic death rate, i.e., the deaths from Small-pox,
Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Fever,
and Diarrhoea per 1,000 population, was 188 as compared with
1.51 in 1901, and 2.21 in London County.
b