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21
VITAL STATISTICS.
The Vital Statistics for the Borough for 1931 are
unsatisfactory. The Death Kate is higher than the
average for recent years. Deaths among infants were
at the high rate of 88 per 1,000 births, to approximate
which we have to go back to 1922. Such an
unhappy retrogression must compel us to give serious
consideration to the possible causes and provides a
necessary reminder that the price of Health like that
of Liberty, is eternal vigilance. There can be no doubt
that an important factor in this increased mortality is
the lowered standard of living which has inevitably
followed the prolonged unemployment and reduced
income of the residents in the Borough. Study of
Tuberculosis and of general mortality rates has revealed
the correlation which exists between a rising standard
of living and a falling death rate and it is only reasonable
to assume that the converse also holds good.
The only relatively satisfactory figure is that of
the Birth Rate which has fallen to 16·8. Having
regard to the economic situation and the overcrowding
which exists in the Borough, there is still great need
for birth control, if the children born are to receive
anything like a fair chance in life.
EXTRACTS FROM VITAL STATISTICS FOR
THE YEAR.