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.

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    of a decline in the rate which had not been maintained. Sanif effort had not become less, but more active, in the later years of 19th Century, and the persistence of a refractory and increasing ] coincident with this, fully explained the increasing attention the g ject was receiving. Yet even here there are contrasts ; for although increase has not in most of the large towns attained the level of years preceding the 570’s decrease, the rate of the last decade* is increase on the ’80’s, and in Scotland is higher than at any previ period. And it is in the small towns of Scotland and in its mainl rural districts that the chief increase has been experienced ; foi most of the large manufacturing towns of both countries—to wl Birmingham, Dundee, and Aberdeen are to some extent exception (see Table, p. 14)—the rates for the last decade are lower than tl which prevailed before the decrease in the ’70’s began. It thus becomes important to discover at what period of ini life the change has taken place, and, confining this portion of enquiry to Glasgow, some striking contrasts again are presem Using as data for this the deaths in the first three years in each dec since the ’70’s, it is seen that while the total rate is now lower by per cent, this reduction represents a decrease of 30 per cent in proportion of deaths occurring from the sixth to the twelfth mon of 16 per cent in those occurring between the third and the si months, but a practical stability of the rate during the first tl months of life. In the later months of infant life, when the prevailing diseases h something in common with those of after years, some reduction the rate can thus be shown ; but the deaths in the first three mon are scarcely due to disease in the ordinary sense, but to defect vitality, and the whole field of ante-natal influences—cell deterioraf in the parents, whether from alcoholic excess, syphilis, or o^ indulgence in the many forms to which adult life is addicted—coi into view. The lowering birth-rate which began in the ’70’s dec has afforded the suggestion that with fewer births we are obtain a more virile race, but the permanence of the death-rate under tl months scarcely supports this suggestion. In view of the recent increase of the total rate, the causes to wl the deaths were attributed become important. Difficulties in way of corresponding groupings of disease over a long series of ye must be taken into account, but it may be shown that its cl * 1891-1900. Since then lower rates have again prevailed. See Chai (p. 8) and Table on p. 18.