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24
It is at once apparent that assuming the total deaths had been
received and distributed, the rate for each Ward would be proportionately
augmented by 6.5, making the rates respectively 182.5; 89.7;
71.5; 865 and 89.
In this way the St. James Street figures for a year with favourable
climatic conditions show an excessive mortality, and the Hoe Street
figure should be nearly possible in all the Wards.
The importance of a low infant mortality has been specially noted by
the Registrar-General, who points out in his 71st Annual Report that
the conditions which tend to a high mortality in the first year of life
operate with adverse effect during the succeeding years of life.
The Chief Medical Officer of the Local Government Board has also
demonstrated that excessive infant mortality implies excessive child
mortality and excessive mortality right up to adult life, and in the
supplement to his report for 1909-10, he shows in diagramatic form,
that the superior prospects of life of those having lived under the conditions
in which low infant mortality occurs persist right through life,
and the conclusion is drawn that as each sanitary authority and the
inhabitants of its district succeed in removing the conditions favouring
high infant mortality they are removing the conditions producing a high
rate of mortality in youth and throughout adult life.
This is very important and worth remembering.
The efforts made in recent years by various Sanitary Authorities in
co-operation with voluntary agencies with a view to reducing the infant
death-rate are justified by the highest and best authority, and the
Notification of Births Act, 1907, enables those who believe that many
infant deaths are due to ignorance on the part of the mothers, to
appoint Health Visitors for the purpose of visiting the houses of the
poor and instructing the mothers as to the best methods of rearing
healthy children.
In dealing with the general death-rate of the St. James Street Ward,
I pointed out that its low-lying situation, the homes, and the economic
conditions of the people were factors influencing adversely its mortality
figures, and I suggested a vigorous administration of our latest and best
Public Health Act.
Since the medical inspection of school children has revealed conditions
that call for new methods of sanitary administration and accentuated
the importance of the personal unit, your Authority would be
acting wisely in adopting the Act of 1907, and appointing a Health
Visitor, whose time could be fully occupied in this work and that
arising out of the medical inspection of our school children.
To whatever causes the excessive mortality disclosed may be due
you would then be enabled to supplement the work of the Sanitary
Inspector by dealing with the removable personal factors concerned.