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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Haverstock Hill,
Hampstead, N.W. 3.
15th March, 1927.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report for the
year 1926.
It is brief when compared with its predecessor for 1925. This is
in accordance with the Ministry of Health's instructions, dated 20th
December, 1926, wherein was indicated the minimum information
which should be given.
A summary of the statistics for 1926 will be found on page 6,
and if these are compared with preceding years it will be seen that the
health of the Borough is maintained at a high standard and varies
but little in the main items; the birth rate and death rate are practically
the same as in 1925.
The infantile death rate shows a rise from 55 to 60 per 1,000
births registered. This, although low, is our highest for five years.
The actual number of children who died under one year of age was 55,
and at least one-half of these died from causes which may be described
as pre-natal. They are included under headings 24—27 in the
Infantile Mortality Table on page 13.
On this point I would call attention to the work of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee on page 80, and the result of their
investigations into infant deaths. I feel sure this is the right line
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along which to attack Infant Mortality still further.
I would like to take the opportunity of expressing my thanks to
the Council, especially to the Chairmen and Members of the Public
Health, Housing, and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees, for
the support and sympathetic consideration they have a Horded me.
I desire also to place on record my appreciation of the work of the
Staff of the Department, who have at all times accorded me their loyal
and unselfish co-operation.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
FRANK E. SCRASE,
Medical Officer of Health.