, 1885-04-08

contrary ours is nearly double as large.
In comparison with the provincial
towns in Denmark we shew in the age
OIL year the proportion s to 3, that is there
die % times as many in our 2 towns as in
the provincial towns at home In the
whole period 0-5 years there died only
81 times as many.
In the country districts there die here in
the cage OIL year 50 against II in the
country districts Of Denmark, or nearly 3
times as many. Here also then the pro
portion is more unfavourable for this age
than for the whole . years.
The first year is decidedly the most dan
gerous. Unfortunately my time will not
permit me to compare the proportion for
the several months of the LIST year of life.
The main result is, therefore, if we leave
Copenhagen out of consideration Nnd, rs
already said, we are not justified in includ-
ing a large own with about 2SO,00O in
habitantsl that
In St. Croi1 in the ages o-5 years there die IS times as many
""""" &" OIL " " 8 " 2s " ."
A frightful mortality. We are therefore
justified in speaking Of the great mortality
among infants in St. CIOiX. And we must
remember that 1888 was by no means an
nnfavourable year, for, according to our
figures, there were more births than deaths.
But still more fearful does this NOR
tality appear when we compare it with the
birth rate, by which is meant the number
OF births in proportion to the number OF
the population. According to the census
of l8S0-and the population has hardly IN
creased since that time-the whole popuIa-
ton Of St. troiX was 1880. The births ia
1885. were 800, tina is 1873 biz tbs for every
1000 Inhabitants. In Denmark there only
occur 32.2 births for every 1000 inhabitants.
In our two towns lie population IN 1880,
was S419, and the births in 1873 were 364
that is 43.2 per 1000 inhabitants, while in
Copenha gen there were 34'3 births per 1000
inhabitants. and III the provincial towns
1926 per 1000.
In the country districts the population
in 1880 was lOO11, the births in 1888 were
536, that il 52.4 per 1909 inhabitants, while
in the Country districts of Denmark it was
3t.9 per 1000 inhabitants. In spite, then,
of St. Cr0ix being ID times as prolific as
Denmark, there die here in the LIST Year of
life from D to times as many, that is in re-
atty about 4 times as many here as in Den
mark (in 1889 for the same number of
inhabitants.
We cannot therefore be surprised hat
the island is steadily decreasing in pOpula-
ton and thar there is a constant cry for
immigration.
A qualification must, however, he stated:
il is a law that the more births there are
the more deaths there are both absolutely
and relatively, but of course the difference
is far from being as great as to cover the
excessive mortality here.
The principal causes of the fearful NOR
tality here are,
1st. The many illegitimate births. This,
of course, is not in opposition to what has
already been said. IIlegitimate children are
a. q rule always more unfavOurably Situat-
ell than the legitimate with regard to their
chances of living, and as the i~lleGitimafe
children in st. Croix constitute more than
ais of the whole, the mortality on this ground
must be very considerable.
End. The Indifference, ignorance and
malice of the mothers all three fac ors are
in a high degree active here as a conSe-
quence OF which many indirect child muir
ders are committed. | have seen children
die of hunger while their mothers breasts
were full Of milk.
3rd. Indifference, and want of under
standing in such matters, want Of
energy and help on the part of surround
ing persons, employers and others similar
ly placed. 1t is certainly no thankful task
to endeavour to teach and guide the mo-
theirs, that l know from my own expert