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course, showing that the fall in the infantile death-rate
can only be but slightly, if at all, the result of the fall in
the birth-rate.
16. Lives Saved, In the last two years, I have estimated
that 383 and 568 lives, respectively, were saved owing
to the reduction of the death-rate. The average death-rate
in the years 1896-1905 was 15.4. Such a rate in 1911 would
have meant the death of 1874 persons instead of 1558 who
actually died. There was thus a saving of 316 lives in 1911.
It cannot be said that these were doubtless the lives of
invalids whose prolongation would only be an infliction to
themselves and their friends. Many strong and healthy
children get infectious diseases and die of them. The whole
evidence goes to show that the death-rate may be regarded
as a health barometer of an inverse kind, i.e. a fall
indicates a general improvement in the health of the population,
and means that there are not only more persons who
live to an advanced age, but that a much larger number of
boys and girls, men and women, enjoy the highest form of
wealth, namely health.
Infant Mortality.
17. The deaths under one year were 273, compared with
241, in 1910. The infant mortality (deaths under one
year per 1,000 births) was 98, compared with 84 last year,
and with 82 in 1909.
The chief cause of the rise in infant mortality last year
was the warm summer, and consequent prevalence of
diarrhoea.