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21
Comparing the years 1886—90 with. 1901—5, it is seen that
there is a marked reduction in both Woolwich and Plumstead
parishes, but the reduction in Woolwich is much greater than in
Plumstead.
21. Table IVo. gives full details as to the ages at death, and
cause of death, of all infants dying in 1905 under one year. It
shews that over one-third of those who died were under one
month, and about one-seventh under one week. Sixty-five, or
half the deaths under one month, were from premature birth,
and of the remainder 23 were attributed to Atrophy, Debility and
Marasmus—indefinite terms often applied to deaths from immaturity.
This appears to be an increasing cause of infantile mortality
and its increase is probably the chief reason why the death rate
of infants has not diminished concurrently with the general death
rate. There are reasons for thinking the increase to be mainly
due to growth of alcoholism among women.
22. Compared with 1904 the past year had among infants
much fewer deaths from Diarrhoeal diseases, and fewer from
Measles, Whooping Cough, Convulsions, and Gastric diseases,
but more from Bronchitis and Pneumonia. There was a gain
of 76 lives by diminished Diarrhoea and of 37 lives by diminution
in other diseases.
22a. Last year, for the first time, weekly returns of all births
occurring in the Borough were received from the local registrars.
These had been asked for in previous years but had been refused
by the Registrar-General. On the receipt of the returns, after
excluding those houses which do not seem to require a visit, the
inspectors call at each house where a birth has occurred, leave a
card of instructions—"How to Feed Baby," and enquire whether
the child is breast or bottle fed. If the latter, the lady inspector