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50
The extreme handicap which a child suffers as to its chance
of life by being born out of wedlock is shown by separating the
illegitimate children from the total infant deaths.
Of 64 illegitimate children born, 10 died, giving an infantile
mortality rate Of 156, while of 1,103 legitimate children born 61
died, giving an infantile mortality rate of 55.
On the following page is seen an analysis of the causes of
death in infants during the first year of life.
It will be seen that the chief causes are atrophy, debility and
marasmus, 16 deaths; premature birth, 14 deaths.
It is difficult to say how far these two causes can be minimised.
They are chiefly due to maternal ill-health or disease.
Syphilis is a factor in some cases of premature birth, but there
are other causes for the determination of which further medical
research is necessary.
It is hoped that the system of Ante -Natal Clinics w hen established,
by their effect on the health of the mother during pregnancy,
will reduce the number of deaths from these causes. It is
satisfactory to note that diarrhoea and enteritis only caused five
deaths of infants under 1 year.
Three infants were suffocated by overlying, a preventable
cause of death which should not occur at all in a district like
Ilford.