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75
are the local rates for the years 1938-44 : 17.3, 17.7, 19.9, 27.6, 11.3, 16.0
and 12.1. The outstandingly high rates occurred in 1940, but still more
in 1941.
The local rates for the years 1939 onwards were : 38.5, 50.0, 55.6,
31.5, 38.0, 34.8 and 32.2. These follow under the same curve as the
national rates which were : 50.6, 56.8, 60.0, 50.6, 49.1, 48.7 and 46.0.
In 1945, 100 (64 male and 36 female) infants died under one year of
age, this being an infant mortality rate of 32-2.
63 failed to survive one month. The neo-natal rate was therefore
25.3, constituting 63 per cent. of the infant mortality rate. Of these 63,
19 failed to survive the twenty-four hours, the cause of death in 10 being
prematurity, in 5 atelectasis, in 2 birth injury, and in one developmental
abnormality. 23 deaths occurred in infants who survived twenty-four
hours but failed to live seven days. Prematurity and abnormality were
the causes of 7 each, atelectasis 4, pneumonia 3 and birth injury 2.
Of the 24 who survived one week but succumbed before the end of
one month, in 12 the cause was prematurity, in 3 developmental abnormality,
in 2 birth injury and in one atelectasis. Infections accounted for
3 (pneumonia 2 and gastro-enteritis one).
Of the 15 deaths amongst those of one to three months, 6 were due to
respiratory complaints, 4 to gastro-enteritis, while prematurity and
developmental abnormality accounted for one each.
22 survived three months but died before the twelve-month. Infections
again accounted for most of these deaths. Of the 17 from these
causes respiratory complaints numbered 9, gastro-enteritis 4 and whooping
cough one. Developmental abnormality played a relatively unimportant
part as a cause of death at this stage as contrasted with their
importance in the earlier period, this resulting in only one death. Pyloric
stenosis was the cause of 2 deaths.
MORTALITY AMONGST CHILDREN OF 1-5 YEARS OF AGE.
Infections which had started to exert their toll on the older of the
infants under one year of age remained the most important cause in the
next few years. Of the 12 deaths of those of one year of age, 6 were due
to infections (pneumonia 2, tuberculous meningitis 2, gastro-enteritis one
and measles one) ; accidents accounted for 3 deaths at this age. Two of
the deaths of those of two years of age were due to infections (whooping
cough one and tuberculous meningitis one), one to appendicitis and one
to an accident. Diseases accounted for 2 of the 4 deaths of those of age
3, pneumonia one and an accident one. The two fatalities in children of
4 years of age were due to measles and to disease.
The death rates of the various groups were all slightly lower than the
national rates which were estimated to be 4.6, 2.6, 2.2 and 1.8 per
thousand living.
INFANT MORBIDITY.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Ophthalmia neonatorum is an inflammation of the eyes of the new
born. At one time it was responsible for much blindness. To-day the