INFANTILE MORTALITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6494, 14 April 1908, Page 6

INFANTILE MORTALITY

NEW ZEALAND'S RATE. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. An interesting Tefcfiet has been issued by the Rcgishtar-Goneral on infantile mortality, showing the proportion oi deaths of infants under ono year t«i every 1000 births in New Zealand fos fifteen consecutive years, ending witli 190 G, and for purposes of comparison tho rates for England and Wules, Scotland, Ireland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland afo given. Tho highest rate of infantile mortality for each year of tho period under review (1592-X9OG) was that, for England and Waled. And while tho rate for Scotland was lower titan iliac for England and Wales, it was liicJiejsin every year than, the rates for all tho other countries mentioned, with three Exceptions. For New Zealand the rates wore by far tbs lowest of all, being in (Ueh of the last throe years about ono-half of those of England and Wale®, in tho year 1900 t«i ©very 1000 births there were no teee than 132 deaths ot infants under on< year in Enghinfl and Wake, 11G in Scot land, 93 In Ireland and Victoria, 76 in Now South Wales and Queensland, but only G2 in Now Zealand. Undoubtedly Clio position for Now Zealand la very much tho best.

Comparing next with sundry different countries, and using an average of ton years' results, farther testimony is afforded of the better position of Hub Dominion. Here, of European countries* Austria, which has a birth-rate of 35 to 3$ per 1000 of population, shows an infantile mortality of 224 per 100 U births, white Now Zealand with u birth-rate of 27 per IUOO of population, loses only 79 intents per 1000 births. So, that, whatever may bo tho rauits of ignorance or wilfulness in this couffcry, from a statistical point of view it would appear that far better conditions obtain titan elsewhere. Turning to the question of tho causes of infantile mortality iu New Zealand akmo. another statement is presented showing deaths of infants under ono year during 1906 from tho chief causes. Hero it is Seen how much is attributed to premature birth, mUraemus (wasting), atrophy, and debility, according to the medical certificates. As to tho conditions which, operate in producing the mortality among infants, the Registrar-Gonertil cannot deal with tho question; but tho conclusions of tho Royal Commission which investigated tho subject in Now South Wales are reprinted in tho Now Zealand Official T<tar Book, 1907, on page 461, distinguishing between legitimate, and illegitimate children. In hie sixty-seventh annual report the Registrar-General of England remarked "tteit a well devised system of early notification of births, legalised and workel in conjunction with the present registration oyatom on the one hand, end with sanitary administration on the other, might, along with other motive forces, serve as *-l most effective and lasting barrier with will oh to stem tho tide of infant mortality." The Notification of Births Act was passed accordingly in England, and the New Zealand legislature in 1907 introduced provisions for early notification when paining the Infant Info Protection Act of-that year, allowing seventy-two hours niter birth if in a city or borough, or twenty-ona days in any other ease.