London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Walthamstow 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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22
INFANTILE MORTALITY RATE.
There were 496 deaths of children under one year of age registered
during the year, as compared with 401 in 1903, 394 in 1902, 481 in
1901, 482 in 1899 and 1900.
The Infant Mortality rate, or the proportion which deaths under
1 year bear to 1,000 births, is 135'9'2, as compared with 113'7 in 1903
(the lowest since 1890), and 141-69, the average rate for the previous
ten years.
This rate is 4-4 lower than that for England and Wales as a whole,
and 18-4 lower than that for the " 76 Great Towns,'' and 13 less than
that for the " 142 Smaller Towns " of the Registrar-General's Report.
Looking at the foregoing table, it will be observed that of the preceding
13 years in only seven was a lesser rate recorded. 1902 and
1903 were the only years in which anything like a desirable rate
occurred, and of the total deaths in the district (1,330) over a third
died within the first year of life.
Many and various are the causes which contribute to this great wastage
of infant life, and if the opinion as generally expressed is correct, that
the physique of the British race is deteriorating, the explanation may
be found in the causes productive of high infantile death-rates.
Every condition inimical to child life leaves its mark on the surviving
population, for conditions that kill the weakest must make the strong
less strong, and if we want a physically improved race we must begin
with the babe.
The main factors in producing a high infantile death-rate are—
1st. Very early marriages accompanied by—
(a) Ignorance of parents.
(b) Poverty.
(c) Artificial feeding of babies.
2nd. Season; and
3rd. Insanitary surroundings.
Seasonal causes are difficult to control, insanitary conditions should
not exist, and the marriages of persons of immature years and with no
knowledge of the responsibility or duty of parenthood should be by law
prevented.