View report page

2
which arithmetically gives us a higher infant mortality rate for 1927
than for the previous year, although as an actual fact fewer infants
died in 1927 than in the previous year. In the body of the Report a
table will be found setting forth the number of deaths of infants for the
past ten years; this table shows that as recently as 1921 the number
of infant deaths was more than twice the number for the year now
under review. This is progress. It remains to be noted that the
infant mortality rate for the County of London in 1927 was 59, for
England and Wales 69, and for the 107 County Boroughs and great
towns 71.
3. A fall in the Birth-rate from 18.2 to 16.8, compares with
the County rate of 16.1, England and Wales 16.7, and the great
towns 17.1. Two hundred fewer births in one year in the Borough !!
Is this a good thing for the country? We certainly wish to populate
the Empire with our own people, but the decline of births is, on the
whole, a good thing. It is better to see small families, well fed and
dressed, than to have large families and to see the struggle to bring
them up. Best of all is it to think that wives are no longer old before
their time, thanks to over production.
4. The Deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis show an increase
of 28 over the previous year, numbering 119; this is the largest number
since 1922. Doubtless the climatic conditions of the year 1927
hastened the end in some cases, but with the prevailing crowding of
families in houses, we cannot expect that our efforts to stamp out this
disease will be as rapid as we could wish. Non-pulmonary tuberculosis,
which implies tuberculous glands, bones, etc., accounted for 13
deaths, compared with a similar number for the previous year.
5. Cancer deaths for the last six years have numbered respectively
146, 140, 148, 164, 159 and 170. Earnest endeavours are being
made to find the cause of cancer.
6. Heart Disease. This is the greatest killing disease in the
country, and the deaths for the last six years have numbered locally 164,
147, 173, 176, 188 and 222. People must die of something eventually, so
that many deaths from heart trouble after the age of 65 must be
expected. Wear and tear are the principal causes of heart trouble and
the speeding-up of life generally within recent years is the principal
factor responsible.