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5
To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the Metropolitan
Borough of Lewisham
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the
Vital Statistics and Sanitary Condition of the Borough for the
year 1909, as required by an Order of the Local Government
Board.
The Borough continues to maintain its reputation as one
of the most healthy districts in England.
The death rate for the year equalled 10.4 per thousand
of the population living at all ages—the lowest in London,
with the exception of Hampstead—and the lowest rate recorded
in Lewisham in any year for which statistics are available.
With regard to the Infant Mortality, it is satisfactory to
report that the mortality rate of 75 per thousand registered
births is the lowest in London and also the lowest on record in
this Borough. It is hoped that the efforts of your Public
Health Committee to educate parents in the matter of properly
nursing and rearing their children may be bearing good fruit.
It is unfortunate that they have been somewhat handicapped by
the necessary withdrawal (in consequence of the decision of the
Local Government Board Auditor) of a pamphlet of instructions,
which had been much appreciated.