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8
Infant Mortality.—Only in 1907 has a lower rate
been recorded, and the figure for 1910—65—is only
four above the best year, and is 21 per 1,000 better
than the average for the previous ten years.
In England and Wales, out of 100 deaths at all
ages in 1908, 21.8 occurred in infancy. The percentages
for Sutton for the following periods are:—
1878—1887 (10 years) 24.1
1888—1897 „ 22.8
1898—1907 „ 21.8
1908—1910 (3 years) 13.4
Cold and wet summers, with consequent diminution
in deaths from diarrhœa, have done much towards
reducing the rate in the last three years; but, as
diarrhoea is to a great extent a preventible disease, a
consideration of the following tables gives reason to
hope that the present low death rate may continue and
even be further reduced.
The Local Government Board has recently issued a
report by the Principal Medical Officer, Dr.
Newsholme, on infant and child mortality, which allows
a comparison to be made between the infant mortality
rates for certain causes in those counties in England
and Wales giving the highest and lowest rates for the
year 1908, and for this district for the six years 1905—
1910.