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19
Infant Mortality (1906) per 1,000 Births.
England and Wales 133
76 Great Towns 146
142 Smaller Towns 148
England and Wales, less the 218 Towns 115
It is generally held that the infant death rate affords
conclusive evidence of sanitary conditions, and that when the rate
is in excess of that for the country generally, it is an indication of
a bad sanitary state of the community in which it occurs. This I
venture to say is only partially true. I think it would be more
correct to say that it is an indication of the social and moral
conditions which prevail.
The deaths from diarrhæal disease strictly come under the
category of preventible deaths, since they are largely engendered
by neglect and ignorance of the simple, yet all important
precautions necessary for the artificial feeding of infants, and thus
their prevention is largely a matter of education in domestic
hygiene.
I find from the registered deaths that the mortality is
practically confined to the working class, and has occurred
chiefly in the streets where the poorer members of this class live;
but there is no difference in the sanitary circumstances of families
in which deaths have occurred, and families in the same areas
where there have been no deaths. I believe the explanation is to
be sought in domestic and personal circumstances, and not in
Municipal Sanitation.
With regard to deaths from premature birth and congenital
defects which constitute so large a part of the infant death rate,
the causes in operation are of a social and moral character, and
unquestionably alcholism is directly or indirectly responsible
in a great many cases. In this connection there were five adult
deaths from alcholism registered during the year.
The teaching of Hygiene in the Public Elementary Schools
will do much in the future to diminish the rate of infantile
mortality, by instructing the future mothers on the care and
feeding of infants, and domestic Hygiene generally. The present
need is, to get in touch with the mothers of to day, and instruct
them practically as to the proper method of infant feeding and
management.
In many Districts qualified women health visitors have been
appointed, who visit all the houses in the District where there is
a young baby. She sees whether or not, the baby is fed and
clothed properly, and at the same time observes the condition of
the house, to see whether it is clean, well-ventilated, and in a
sanitary state.