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deaths, in 1948, ninety-three. The figures for the next four years were an
average of 56, for the next five an average of 48. In 1957, 39 deaths gave
an infant mortality rate of 14·0, one appreciably below the figure of 23·0
for the country as a whole, even though that figure was the lowest up to this
recorded in this country. With a diminution in numbers, wide variations
can occur without their being of any material significance. For instance,
in 1950 the number of infant deaths was 30, a low figure sandwiched
between those of 64 and 62 for the years 1949 and 1951; in the opposite
direction, the figure of 59 in 1956 came between figures of 49 and 39.
Last year, 48 infants living in the district or born to mothers ordinarily
resident here, died under one year of age. In the same year, 2,830 infants
were born. The infant mortality rate therefore was 17·0. The rate for the
country as a whole was 22·5, a reduction of 0·6 on the figure for the
previous year, and the lowest hitherto experienced in this country.
Of these 48 deaths, 39 occurred in infants under one month old. The
neonatal rate therefore was 13·5, comprising 81 per cent. of the infant
mortality rate.
Of the twenty-four infants who failed to survive twenty-four hours,
only two had been born at home. One of these was born ten weeks
premature; the other was one of twins born prematurely to a
mother suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy. Of the deaths of those
born in hospital, four were due to birth injuries, four to developmental
abnormalities and eleven due to prematurity, in seven of which the
cause of this prematurity was not known.
Of the eight infants who survived twenty-four hours, but failed to
live one week, one was born at home; this baby was found dead in a
rot on the second day. The causes of death of those who died in hospital
were of much the same distribution as those who had died under twentyfour
hours.
Seven infants lived one week but failed to reach one month of age.
Two of these were born at home. Three suffered from congenital developmental
abnormalities.
Of those who attained one month but failed to reach the age of one
year, four died between one and three months, of which three suffered
from developmental abnormalities. Two survived three but not six
months, one six but not nine months and one nine but not twelve months.
Of these, two suffered from severe developmental abnormalities ; the
other died during delivery.
Stillbirths
Forty-seven stillbirths were registered last year. This was a rate per
thousand population of 0·29, and a rate per thousand live and stillbirths
of 16·3. The rate per thousand births for the country as a whole was 21·6.
Of the forty stillbirths about which particulars are known, all but
were to mothers confined in hospital.
Of those where the mother was confined in an institution, many were
premature. In five there was no apparent cause for the early onset of
labour In three there was premature separation of the placenta with