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There is a considerable reduction in the number of deaths
from Pneumonia as compared with 1934, when there was a severe
Measles epidemic with deaths from secondary Broncho-Pneumonia.
In the absence, however, of an epidemic of measles and
whooping cough, tne percentage of deaths in young infants from
acute respiratory infections is unduly high, being 21.4%. Broncho
Pneumonia always exacts a heavy toll in causing deaths of children
below one year of age. At the ordinary infant welfare sessions it
is very common to find infants suffering from bronchitis and
bronchial catarrh, especially associated with the eruption of the
first teeth. Probably more infants are referred to hospitals or to
private doctors from the Centre for treatment for this condition
than for any other disease. There is a tendency on the part of the
mothers to accept this sub-acute or chronic bronchial infection as
an inevitable accompaniment of dentition, and, indeed, of infancy.
The condition is either not treated, or the infant is unwisely overtreated
with many and varied remedies recommended by friends
and neighbours, so that there results not only a chronically
inflamed respiratory tract, but a general lowering of resistance of
the patient to subsequent acute infections.
No fewer than 51.7% of the infantile deaths in 1935 were
due to causes such as congenital debility, prematurity, marasmus,
malformation; neonatal deaths remain high in spite of improved
care of the mothers during pregnancy and labour, and of the
infants in the early days and weeks atter confinement.
Of the 191 deaths under one year of age, no fewer than 88,
or 46.1 per cent., occurred in infants within the first four weeks
of life.
The following Tables indicate clearly that there is much
research required into the causes and prevention of premature
labour, before it will become possible to reduce very considerably
and permanently the infantile mortality rate. In the absence of
epidemic diseases this rate would be very low were it not for
the continued large number of deaths in the neo-natal period.
Age period at death.
Under one week 67
From 1 to 2 weeks 9
From 2 to 3 weeks 5
From 3 to 4 weeks 7
88
D
65