SAVING OF CHILD LIFE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144198, 15 September 1913, Page 7

SAVING OF CHILD LIFE.

A great improvement in the conditions of life in Great Britain is indicated in a report by Dr. Nowsholme, medical officer to tho Local Government Board, which states that tho lives of 185,772 children have been saved in tho seven years, 1306-1912, owing to the Improved social conditions. Dr. Newsholme says:--“This saving of life cannot ho attributed, merely to favourable climatic conditions. It can be claimed, with high probability, to be the result of improved sanitary and housing conditions, of more efficient municipal and domestic cleanliness, of education in hygiene, of increased sobriety of the population, and of ■ the widespread awakening to the national importance of child mortality, with concentration on efforts of child-welfare work such as had never previously occurred.” Tho highest and lowest rates per 1000 in 241 areas wore: Stalybridgo, 189.0 and Hornsey 66.8. “Infant mortality,” says Dr. Jifewsholme, “is higher in urban than in rural areas. The chief apparent exceptions to this mb are large compact villages having urban characteristics, such as tho mining villages in tho county of Durham. It is a very remarkable fact,” ho proceeds, “that during the past ten years the decline in tho birth-rat© has been counterbalanced by tho decline in tho infantile death-rate.” Between 1875 and 1880 the birth-rate was 35.30, and the infant mortality was 145 per 1000. In 18961900, although tho birth-rate fell to 26.3, tho doatb-rate also fell to 117. During tho post seven years the average infantile death-rate has fallen from 144 to 115. This represents a saving of 186,772 lives.