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26
1904. It is in this group the greatest reduction in the infant
mortality rate occurred in Lewisham.
Under the head of Wasting Diseases are included deaths
due to Premature Birth—Congenital Defects—Injury at Death—
Want of Breast Milk—Atrophy—Debility—Marasmus. To this
group 139 deaths were allocated, compared with 151 in 1904.
Ten deaths were due to some form of Tubercular Disease
(consumption), 43 to Respiratory Diseases, either Bronchitis,
Laryngitis or Pneumonia, and 64 to Diseases unclassified or illdefined,
such as Convulsions, Suffocation, Overlaying, &c.
Premature Birth—or Immaturity, was the cause attributed
to 57 or 16.9 per cent. of the recorded infant deaths, compared
with 73 in 1904. This classification does not refer to stillborn
infants, but to those living at birth and surviving various
periods from a few hours to several days. The longest period
recorded in these returns was one month. It will be easily
understood that owing to the infants' immaturity and consequent
lack of vitality, the mortality amongst such children must
be exceedingly high, although they may be born to parents whose
social position enables the infants to enjoy the best chances of
survival which money and skill can secure. Among the poorer
classes the chances of survival are more remote. This no doubt
accounts for the fact that the larger proportion of deaths in this
group occurred in the families of the labouring classes.
Doubtless the want of food, plus the ignorance of the mother as
to the required care of herself during the anti natal period and
the effect upon the embryo are largely responsible for many
premature births.
Stillborn Infants.—The deaths recorded as due to premature
birth and immaturity, which were responsible for 16.9