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25
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
During the year 198 deaths of children under 1 year of age were
registered as against 160 in 1919, 166 in 1918, 152 in 1917, 196
in 1916, 267 in 1915, 243 in 1914, 256 in 1913, 243 in 1912 and
340 in 1911.
The rate, based on infant deaths, or the proportion which deaths
under one year bears to 1,000 births, in 1920 was 59.9 compared with
69.5 in 1919, 81 1 in 1918, and an average of 87.4; 101.4; 123.3 and
151.5 for the five-yearly periods from 1896 to 1915.
Previous to 1901, when the birth-rate was 33 or over, the infant
death-rate was 145; between 1901 and 1910 the birth-rate fell from 34
to 30, and the death-rate declined to 101.
Since 1910 to 1918 the birth-rate has declined steadily, with a corresponding
decrease in deaths. In 1919 the birth-rate increased considerably
over that of 1918, and we had the smallest Infantile Mortality rate
then on record.
In 1920 the birth-rate was 7.5 per 1,000 greater than in 1919, and
the Infantile Mortality rate the lowest on record. We had thus an
increased birth-rate and a proportionately decreased mortality which
we have not experienced heretofore.
And this is all to the good, for it is well recognised that conditions
favourable to child-life in the first year give a chance of living to the
weak, render the strong more vigorous and healthy, and less prone
to fall victims later to the complaints which seem inseparable from
growing children.
It may be assumed that the work carried out in recent years by the
Child Welfare Centres and by the Health Visitors has contributed
largely to the recorded lessened mortality, and we shall be directly able
to fully appreciate the true value of this work when medical inspection
of the children born in 1914 onwards takes place at the Schools.
If a real improvement has been effected, the results should be shown
under the headings of Height, Weight, Nutrition, the Presence of Good
Teeth, and the Absence of General Defects.
From the Infant Mortality Table following page 26, it will be seen
that of the 198 deaths under 1 year of age, 63, or one.third of the total,
died within the first week, and 105, or more than half the deaths,
occurred within the first year of life.
How many of the children might be saved under ideal conditions it
is difficult to estimate. Of the 63, 52 had no chance of survival after
birth, as their deaths were due to ante.natal conditions, and though it
is quite easy to assume what are the best conditions under which
pregnant women should live, it does not follow that women living under
such will bear viable children.
This is the experience of every medical man.