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12
Vital Statistics.
Mortlake, but it is to be borne in mind that the number of births in
Barnes to those in Mortlake is approximately the proportion of
2 to 3.
Of the 29 total deaths, 6 were deaths of infants who, though
belonging to this District, died outside the Urban District.
Considering the age-periods in which the deaths occurred, it is
extremely important to note that in the case of 16 deaths,
representing over50 percent, of the total mortality, death occurred
before the infants had reached the age of 4 weeks, and of these 16
deaths, as many as 11 occurred during the first week of life—
more than one-third of the total deaths. It is evident that to
effect any further reduction in the infantile death-rate, it is
necessary for preventive measures to be brought to bear at the
earliest possible moment of an infant's life, and even before birth,
especially in respect of those causes of mortality operating at so
early a stage of its existence. To this end the work under the
Notification of Births Act and the Maternity and Child Welfare
Act are directed.
Considering the causes that led to the death of these 29
infants, 4 were newly-born infants on whom inquests were held,
having been "Found Dead," and 4 others died before they were
one day old from Premature Birth or Congenital Malformations.
From the same causes 6 other infants died, on the 2nd, 4th, 5th,
9th, and 11th days respectively, making a total of 14 deaths from
these causes before the 11th day after birth. Six other infants
died at the age of one month, the causes of death in these cases
being Premature Birth, Convulsions (2), Diarrhoea, Bronchitis, and
Syncope following an operation. Twenty of the infants had therefore
died by the time this age had been reached. In the remaining
9 infants who died between two and twelve months old, the causes
of death were Marasmus, Bronchitis, Broncho-pneumonia (2),
Whooping Cough (2), Diarrhoea, Syphilis, and Intussusception.
The rate of Infantile Mortality amongst illegitimate infants is
very much higher than amongst legitimate infants. Of the 29
deaths that occurred under 1 year of age, 8 were deaths of
illegitimate infants.