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The infantile mortality rates for the different Wards are
as follows:—
St. Mary's 79.09
St. John's 41.6
Cottenham Park 60.6
Dundonald 83.9
Trinity 139.1
South Park 117.6
During the period (the past eleven years) that records
|have been obtainable of infantile mortality in the various
Wards, it has been found that South Park Ward has had
the highest rate in five years, St. Mary's Ward in two years,
Trinity Ward in three years, and Dundonald Ward in one
year.
Twenty-two babies, or 18.8 per cent. of the total deaths,
failed to survive the first week of life, and 40 the first month.
One of the institutions undoubtedly influencing the
infantile mortality of the district is the South Wimbledon
Day Nursery, which caters largely for the mothers who have
to go out to work, and who are faced by the alternative,
without such an institution, of going to work and neglecting
the children or staying at home to look after the children on
a wage which is insufficient for their needs.
Speaking from experience of one of the first and largest
day nurseries in the country, one would like to see more of
these institutions, for, although one is opposed to mothers
going out to work as an ideal, one has to face the hard facts
as they are, and in the case of many of the labourers, and
particularly men in casual work, the only way the home can
be kept together is by the woman working, and it means a
great deal when one knows that their children are kept
under such conditions of cleanliness and comfort as are found
in these institutions, in addition to which one is certain that
they are properly fed.
Notification of Births Act, 1907.—During the year 885
births have been notified by the following persons:—Parents,
421; Midwives, 300; Doctors, 151; and other persons, 13.
During the same period 1,094 births were registered.
The number of infants visited was 483.
The number of re-visits made was 3,858.
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