Balestre and Giletta de Saint Joseph (of Nice) compiled Statistics of Paris and the towns of France which have more than 30,000 inhabitants, comprising a total population of 7,300,000.
Their tables show that from 1892 to 1897 out of every 1000 deaths at all ages 166.2 occurred in infants under one year.
This was the average proportion, but sometimes it was greater. In 1897, for example, the deaths among infants under one year bore the following ratios to the deaths at all ages:--
Chalons-sur-Marne
200.34 per 1000
Elbeuf
240.35 per 1000
Caudebec-lès-Elbeuf
200.83
Beauvais
241.09
Arras
201.21
Troyes
243.92
Nancy
201.68
Rouen
246.95
Saint-Chamond
201.98
Montreuil-sous-Bois
247.43
Denain
202.02
Hazebrouck
249.89
Aubervilliers
202.99
La Ciotat
250.96
Le Cateau
203.39
Fécamp
252.56
Toul
205.13
Reims
253.50
Argenteuil
210.52
Meaux
254.02
Saint-Ouen
213.59
Annonay
259.82
Douarnenez
214.28
Calais
260.33
La Seyne-sur-Mer
217.65
Bailleul
262.02
Firminy
218.52
Hautmont
272.11
Epinal
220.29
Saint-Denis
277.25
Alfortville
220.93
Dieppe
290.13
Puteaux
221.00
Hénin-Liétard
291.26
Boulogne-sur-Mer
221.09
Belfort
300.37
Alais
221.34
Lille
307.00
Vesoul
223.99
Roubeix
312.86
Salon
226.24
La Madeleine
314.85
Lambezellec
226.41
Tourcoing
324.42
Clichy
226.97
Lens
333.34
Lunéville
232.39
Dunkerque
344.24
Chauny
232.87
Le Grand'Combe
345.89
Saint-Dié
234.62
Watrelos
353.49
Pantin
235.52
Bolbec
346.15
Saint-Quentin
235.75
Bruay
352.11
Sotteville-lès-Rouen
237.29
Liévin
378.48
Le Havre
237.22
Croix
400.83
Villeurbanne
238.04
Marc-en-Baroeul
438.20
Armentières
240.02
Halluin
504.85
In these towns, therefore, the mortality under one year was equal to one-fifth, one-quarter, one-third, and even one-half of the total death rate.
Out of every 1000 infantile deaths 385 are caused by diarrhoea, and 147 by pulmonary affections; these two, therefore, give rise to more than half the total death-rate among infants (532 out of every 1000 -- Fig. 126).
All other causes combined (eruptive fevers, contagious diseases, congenital debility, &c.) contribute only 468 out of every 1000 deaths.
Diarrhoea persists throughout the year, but it is particularly virulent during summer. In Fig. 128 its relative fatality during the different months is shown; least in January and February, it becomes more deadly as the atmospheric temperature rises.
The proportion of deaths from diarrhoea is 224.8 per 1000 in March.
The proportion of deaths from diarrhoea is 254.8 per 1000 in April.
The proportion of deaths from diarrhoea is 301.1 per 1000 in May.
The proportion of deaths from diarrhoea is 426.4 per 1000 in June.
The proportion of deaths from diarrhoea is 587 per 1000 in July.
The proportion of deaths from diarrhoea is 604.7 per 1000 in August.
It begins to fall as the weather grows colder
It is no more than 537.7 per 1000 in September.
It is no more than 431.5 per 1000 in October.
It is no more than 304.4 per 1000 in November.
It is no more than 235.9 per 1000 in December.
The mortality due to digestive troubles is thus considerable. In July, August, and September, diarrhoea gives rise to more than half of the infantile deaths (587, 604.7, and 537.7 per 1000). If the five months June, July, August, September, and October are taken together, 517.5 out of every 1000 infantile deaths during this period are seen to be due to diarrhoea.
On the other hand pulmonary affections are most virulent during the cold months. As the death rate from diarrhoea diminishes the mortality from pulmonary affections increases (Fig. 127).
In January diseases of the chest claim 263.2 out of every 1000 infantile deaths; this proportion falls gradually. It is
239.9 per 1000 in February.
228.9 per 1000 in March.
200.9 per 1000 in April.
107.3 per 1000 in June.
61.6 per 1000 in July.
56.4 per 1000 in August.
Then as the atmospheric temperature falls it begins to increase.
It is 61.8 per 1000 in September.
It is 89.3 per 1000 in October.
It is 172.6 per 1000 in November.
It is 246.2 per 1000 in December.
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Fig. 126. Graphic representation of the relative frequency of the various causes of death in infants under one year. |
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Fig. 127. Mortality from pulmonary affections during the different months of the year, showing how it increases when the external temperature becomes low. |
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Fig. 128. Mortality from diarrhoea during the different months of the year, showing the considerable increase during the summer. |
