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13
The "uncorrected" death rate of 10.4 per thousand then
more nearly expresses the actual death rate than does the so-called
"corrected" rate.
The infantile mortality, that is to say, the relation which the
number of deaths during 1905 of infants under one year of age
bears to the number of births during 1905, is expressed as 120 per
1,000 births. These figures are, of course, absolute, and have
nothing to do with "estimates." An infantile mortality rate of 120
is still too high, but it is considerably below the average for the last
ten years. In my last report some allusion was made in detail to
the causes of infantile mortality, and it may perhaps be said here
that there is reason to hope that in the next few years the operation
of various sanitary measures will tend to still further reduce its
local incidence.
In Table V., which appears for the first time this year, the
causes assigned for the deaths of infants during 1905 are analysed
in some detail.
It should be noted that in certain columns of Table II.,
Table IV. and Table V. it has been necessary to include deaths in
the workhouse of infants from Mortlake and Barnes. These deaths,
not having been registered in the district, are not included in the
figures given in cols. 5 and 6, Table I.
Again, however, it has to be pointed out that the construction
of the official tables does not allow any indication being made of
those infantile deaths which have been, through accidental circumstances
only, registered in the district.
In Table IV. the causes of and ages at death of persons
dying during 1905 are set forth. It will be seen that Phthisis and
other tubercular diseases account for about one-eighth of the total
deaths. This is an increase on the records of late years. In part