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four years the deaths from suffocation in bed averaged four a
year, and in the four years 1904-7 they averaged 7. Alcoholism
among women is no doubt the chief cause of overlying, but, in
view of the decrease of alcoholism, it is probable that fatigue
due to long hours at industrial occupation may be an important
factor.
The death-rate per l,000 births from premature birth
in Woolwich Borough was 17.8 compared with 18.9, 14.2, 20.5,
19.5 and 17.9 in the five preceding years. In London it was
There were 22 deaths of illegitimate infants. The
death-rate of illegitimate infants under one year was 218 per
1,000 births (compared with 246 in 1916) and that of legitimate
children 74.
19. Compared with 1916, the past year had among infants
more deaths from bronchitis and pneumonia, and fewer from
premature birth.
20. Deaths between 1 and 5 years. 57 deaths (55 in 1916)
occurred between 1 and 2 years, and 56, (50 in 1916) between 2
and 5. The corresponding figures in 1913 were 55 and 38 respectively.
The death-rate between 1 and 5 was 10.7 per 1,000 children
of that age found at the Census (viz., 10,357), compared
with 13.6, 13.1 and 10.1 in the three previous years.
21. Zymotic death-rate. The number of deaths from scarlet
fever, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, enteric fever,
and from diarrhoea and enteritis (under 2 years of age as regards
diarrhoea and enteritis) was 101 and the death rate per 1,000
population 0.69 compared with 0.98, 0.95 and 0.85 in the three
previous years.
The zymotic death-rate has fallen greatly since 1901,
when it was 1•51.
22. Inquests. There were 131 inquests, compared with 105,
123, 146, 180 and 181 in the five preceding years.
The following table gives particulars as to the cause
of death:
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