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10
County of Middlesex, and that effective steps require to be taken
to ascertain and counteract the causes which bring about this
excessive loss of child life.
The Medical Officer of the Local Government Board, during
the year issued a report on the subject of infantile mortality, in
which he places the responsibility for its continuance on sanitary
authorities and parents alike. He repeats and emphasises the
various points which were brought to the notice of the Health
Committee in my special report, and I think it well to quote here
the main conclusions at which he arrives and the recommendations
he makes in regard to this subject.
"Conclusions.
(1). Every county and most districts whose experience
when summarised as a whole, show a low infant mortality,
have within their borders areas in which infant mortality is
excessive.
(2). The subject of child mortality is of national importance.
(3). Infant mortality is the most sensitive index we possess
of social welfare and of sanitary administration, especially
under urban conditions.
(4). A heavy infant mortality implies a heavier death-rate
up to five years of age; and right up to adult life the districts
suffering from a heavy child mortality, have higher death-rates
than the districts whose infant mortality is low.
(5). It is strictly correct to say, that a high infant
mortality implies a high prevalence of the conditions which
determine national inferiority.
(6). There are strong reasons for concluding that much
of this mortality in the first month of life is preventable, if
appropriate action is taken.
(7). Infant mortality is higher among the poor than among
the well-to-do, although natural feeding of infants is probably
more general among the former.