M 146
Except for the wide prevalence of Syphilis and the absence of any prenatal care, it is not clear why so large a number of conceptional products fail to reach full-term maturity. One expects criminal interference at an earlier stage and the figures point to some abortifacient condition which needs further investigation.
(c) Tetanus neonatorum.
This preventable condition accounted for as many as 70 deaths in 1928, of which all, except one, were Chinese. Lack of care and cleanliness of the umbilical stump are the chief causes and the remedy lies in training Midwives and proper care at childbirth. Antenatal and Welfare centres are valuable media for this education.
(d) Icterus neonatorum.
The deaths due to this disease are even higher; there was a total of 138 in 1928, of which one only was of Non-Chinese nationality. The exact nature of this jaundice is not usually stated on the certificate. No doubt a good deal of it is syphilitic in origin.
Finally it may be noted that nearly all the deaths from non-tubercular meningitis occurred in children under 5 years of age, i.e. 197 deaths in 1928.
It has already been noted that 4,338 Chinese Infants, under one year of age, died in the year 1928 and, although this is somewhat less than the previous year (4,637), the figure is sadly high. These figures do not include Stillbirths. If we add those who died between one and five years of age, we get a total of about 7,000 or 48% of the total Chinese deaths for the year.
Thus nearly half the Chinese deaths in this Colony occur in children under five years of age.
Life is ended before it has scarce begun. This is not only tragic but a serious defect in an organised, modern State and demands, as already suggested, the urgent attention of the Government. The lines that Prevention should take are those of Home Sanitation (especially a reduction of overcrowding) in general, and of Infant Welfare Schemes (maternal education) in particular.
(6) Beri-Beri.
As would be expected, deaths in the Colony from this disease stand high in the list but, in contrast to most of the other diseases mentioned, do not seem to be increasing of recent years.
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M 146
Except for the wide prevalence of Syphilis and the absence of any prenatal care, it is not clear why so large a number of conceptional products fail to reach full-term maturity. One expects criminal interference at an earlier stage and the figures point to some abortifacient condition which needs further investi- gation.
(c) Tetanus neonatorum.
This preventable condition accounted for as many as 70 deaths in 1928, of which all, except one, were Chinese. Lack of care and cleanliness of the umbilical stump are the chief causes and the remedy lies in training Midwives and proper care at childbirth. Antenatal and Welfare centres are valuable media for this education.
(d) Icterus neonatorum.
The deaths due to this disease are even higher; there was a total of 138 in 1928, of which one only was of Non-Chinese nationality. The exact nature of this jaundice is not usually stated on the certificate. No doubt a good deal of it is syphilitic in origin.
Finally it may be noted that nearly all the deaths from non- tubercular meningitis occurred in children under 5 years of age, i.c. 197 deaths in 1928.
It has already been noted that 4,338 Chinese Infants, under one year of age, died in the year 1928 and, although this is somewhat less than the previous year (4,637), the figure is sadly high. These figures do not include Stillbirths. If we add those who died between one and five years of age, we get a total of about 7,000 or 48% of the total Chinese deaths for the year.
Thus nearly half the Chinese deaths in this Colony occur in children under five years of age.
Life is ended before it has scarce begun. This is not only tragic but a serious defect in an organised, modern State and demands, as already suggested, the urgent attention of the Government. The lines that Prevention should take are those of Home Sanitation (especially a reduction of overcrowding) in general, and of Infant Welfare Schemes (maternal education) in particular.
(6) Beri-Beri.
As would be expected, deaths in the Colony from this disease stand high in the list but, in contrast to most of the other diseases mentioned, do not seem to be increasing of recent
years.
Page 450Page 451
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