Infant mortality / by A.K. Chalmers, M.D., Medical Officer of Health, Glasgow.

  • Chalmers, A. K. (Archibald Kerr), 1856-1942
Date:
[1906?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Infant mortality / by A.K. Chalmers, M.D., Medical Officer of Health, Glasgow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/28 (page 10)
    The ’70’s Decrease.-—The ’70’s decrease looks a comparative unimportant thing as presented in the curve for England and Scotian but it reveals some new features when viewed in the light of what w, occurring in several of the larger towns at this period (see Chart III and Table on p. 14). Glasgow Chart, 1855-1905.—When I first looked at this chart, ready explanation of its most striking feature occurred to me. . you will see, the year 1871 marks the end of a period which w; characterized by high average rates, while 1876 begins a period durii which even the highest rates recorded are only slightly in excess the lowest prior to 1871. Otherwise it presents in an exaggerate way the features of the curve for Scotland, although the increasii rates towards the close of the century fall far short of those prior the ’70’s. In the 17 years, 1855-71, the average rate was 171 p 1000 ; in 1872-5 it was 163 ; and in 1876-1900, 147 ; while for tl four years, 1901-4, the average was 143. Shortly, then, there is decline in the infant rate of 14 per 1000 between the earlier and lat portions of the last half-century. Two questions arise here : Can we find any indication (1) of tl cause of the fall in the ’70’s, and (2) of the subsequent increase ? have already alluded to the explanation which occurred to me in tl form of the extensive clearances which took place from many of o worst districts, chiefly in the first half of this decade. But to demo strate its accuracy it was necessary to prove the absence of a fall other towns similarly situated, except with regard to coincide clearances. Charts of Other Towns.—Charts have been constructed on the deat rates for Liverpool and Manchester (Chart III.) among English citie and for Edinburgh, Dundee (Chart IV.), and Aberdeen (Chart V among Scotch cities, and I have taken out in addition the figures f Birmingham and Leeds. Their comparison is interesting. Liverpc and Manchester display features in common with those I have describ in the Glasgow Chart. Edinburgh, also, although on a much lowj level, presents features which bring it rather into conformity with t] towns already mentioned than with Dundee and Aberdeen, which some extent stand alone and form exceptions. In Aberdeen the low rate experienced was in the ’70’s decade—although there is lit! fluctuation in the decennial rates during thirty years—but the ra for the ’90’s decade is considerably in excess of anything former * The parallel curves at the bottom of this Chart show the proporti (a decreasing one) of the total death-rate due to deaths at ages 0-1.