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8
These deaths account for the increased rate. Diarrhoea as a
cause of death in young children is now negligible .
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, on the Registrar General's figures,
51.4—the lowest on record, except that of 1923—as compared with
64.1 in 1924. It was 24 less per 1,000 than that of England and
Wales, 27 less than that of the Great Towns and less than London
by 15.
Whilst the total number of infants dying in their first year has
become yearly less there has been no improvement in the Mortality
from causes operating before confinement and during the first four
weeks of life. A further reduction in this respect may be looked
for when Medical Science has unlocked the secrets which lie behind
these deaths and can apply a remedy. Meantime we must hope for
improvement in a more extended use of the Ante-Natal Clinic and
the education of our Senior Girls while in School, in the art of
healthy living.
On page 30 is given a table based on the Registrar General's four
quarterly Returns.
The Population, Birth-rate, Death-rate and Infantile Mortalityrate
of nine extra Metropolitan Districts with that of Walthamstow
is shown.
Excluding West Ham, Edmonton and Croydon our birth-rate was
higher than in the other Districts whereas our Infantile Mortalityrate
was lower with the exception of Croydon, Edmonton, Ilford and
Hornsey.
The low birth-rate and the economic conditions of the Borough of
Hornsey would apparently explain its favourable position, but not
satisfactorily in view of the fact that Edmonton, a less favoured
District than Walthamstow, with the highest birth-rate of all
Districts, has the lowest Infant Mortality, in fact only 60 per cent.
of that of Willesden, a wealthy, well administered District, where
Ante-Natal and Child Welfare Work is carried out energetically and
on the most up-to-date methods.
On page 28, it will be seen from the Table given, that
Hoe Street Ward socially one of the best parts of the District,
has the lowest Birth-rate and the highest Infantile Mortality-rate
of all the Wards, a contrast as strongly marked as that between
Willesden and Edmonton, which goes to show that my previous
remarks as to diminution of the Infantile Mortality-rate is little
affected by the methods now in operation.
The following Tabular Statement issued by the Registrar General
will serve to show our relative position compared with the Country
and the "Great" and "Smaller" Towns as regards general Death
and Infantile Mortality rates and those from the principal Infectious
Diseases.