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of Diphtheria cases notified in 1922 was 732, as compared with
872 during 1921.
The deaths from Scarlet Fever number only 10; 4 less than
the previous year, and the deaths from Diphtheria 22, being 24
less than those registered in 1921. Deaths from Measles, however,
number 45, 41 more than in 1921, and Whooping Cough 62, being
46 more than in 1921.
Small Pox did not appear in Hackney during the year,
although considerable anxiety was felt in this direction, and it
was necessary to keep under observation thirty-six contacts to
cases notified in other Boroughs. As always occurs during periods
of anxiety due to Small Pox, a considerable number of cases of
illness were suspected of being Small Pox, the majority of them
being severe cases of Chicken Pox.
The Disinfecting Station and Isolation Shelters were placed
in a thorough state of repair during the past year at a cost of
£939. The report on the condition of the Disinfecting Station
and repairs required is on page 112.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The institution of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres is
probably one of the most important of the measures yet adopted
for the prevention of infant mortality in the Borough, and to
the work of these Centres must be attributed a considerable share
in the very appreciable decline in infant mortality, which is
measured by the number of deaths occurring among infants of
under one year of age, that has undoubtedly taken place during
recent years.
The infantile mortality rate is considered to be the most
sensitive index of sanitary conditions now possessed, as it reacts
immediately to any epidemic condition and is always constantly
high wherever there is an insanitary environment within or without
the home. Therefore, as one would expect, the decline in the
infantile mortality rate has not been uniform.