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The Mortality from these diseases in 1923 was negligible whereas
in 1922, Measles caused 40 and Whooping Cough 39 deaths. Probably
very few deaths will occur in 1925 or in the two subsequent
years.
Only one death occurred from Scarlet Fever and 4 from Diphtheria.
There were 6 deaths from Diphtheria in 1923 although the
actual number of cases was 45 less than in 1924. There was no
death from Enteric, and Diarrhoea as a cause of death in children
under 2 years of age has become a very unimportant factor, in spite
of the overcrowding and the want of air and light in many of the
homes (so-called) of these children.
Infantile Mortality-rate.—This rate is based on the deaths of
children under 1 year of age as compared with the births taking
place within the year, and was 64-1 per 1,000 as compared with
45-8 in 1923—the most favourable year on record.
The increased mortality from Measles, Whooping Cough and
Pneumonia (27 deaths) explains the big jump for 1924.
Our rate is 11 per 1,000 less than the Country as a whole and
16 less than that of the Great Towns.
Compared with the average for the previous 5 years the rate
is 4-2 per 1,000 in excess, but taking the five-yearly periods since
1891—136-3; 151-5 ; 123-3; 101-4; 87-4 and 69-9—the mortality
for 1924 is less than any of the averages up to and including 1920.
Most Authorities, and all interested in Infant Welfare Work,
like a pat on the back for the lowered infant mortality of children
under 1 year of age shown in recent years, and attribute the improvement
to Health Visiting and Infant Welfare Work.
Could four-fifths of this work be dropped and the Community
no worse off ?
In the period 1896-1900, 151 out of every thousand born died
in the first year of life. The birth-rate then was 32-3 per 1,000.
Assuming the same birth-rate for 1924, we should have had
4,234 births, or 1,943 more than actually took place, so that even
with an Infantile Mortality-rate of 151 per 1,000 the State would
be the richer by 1,450 children than under present conditions.
As pointed out previously the work carried out at the Ante and
Post-Natal Clinics and by Child Welfare Workers appears to be a