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37
adopting the Notification of Births Act and employing a properly
qualified women inspector to carry it out seems to be considered
an overwhelming reason against making use of a measure intended
to give local authorities at least one definite means with which
to attempt to reduce the waste of infant life.
Dealing only with the causes of death of infants in 1908 as
detailed in Table V., it will be noticed that there were eight fatal
cases of infectious disease, seven being Whooping-cough and the
other Measles. Last year four infants died from Measles but only
one from Whooping-cough. Diarrhoea caused 37 deaths, compared
with 24 in the previous year. The total infant deaths from Zymotic
diseases during the year were therefore 45, compared with 29 in
1907. The number is equal to 34 6 per cent, of all the infant
deaths, and is over 60 per cent, of the deaths at all ages caused
by Zymotic disease.
The 19 deaths attributed to Premature Birth is four less than
the number registered from the same cause last year, but it is an
alarming total all the same. The fact that over 14 per cent, of
all the infant deaths were due to the babies having been born
before full time requires serious consideration. The subject has
been referred to in previous Reports. It seems to prove that in
any attempt to reduce infant mortality the health and condition
of the pregnant woman must be considered as well as the treatment
of the baby after birth.
Another important fact shown in the table is that 19 infants
died from such diseases as Atrophy, Debility or Marasmus. Of
course there are exceptions to all rules, but generally speaking,
these technical terms mean in simple language, Bad Feeding
Errors of diet are also the cause of most, if not all, of the fatal
cases of Diarrhoea.
Adding together the deaths from Diarrhoea, Marasmus, etc.,
Premature Birth and those due to overlying (3), most of which it
may be quite fairly said might have been prevented by proper
knowledge properly applied, it will be seen that during the year