View report page

4
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Bethnal Green, E.2.
28th April, 1930.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit herewith my first Anjnual
Report relative to the health of the Metropolitan Borough of
Bethnal Green.
The general death rate at all ages from all causes was 13.7
which shews an increase over the previous year when it was
11.7 per thousand of the population.
The total number of Notifiable Diseases occurring during
the year was 2,197. This figure represents an increase of 566
cases over the previous year. The increase is mainly due to
the fact that Chicken-Pox was made notifiable by the Council on
the 7th May, 1929; 415 cases in all were notified. The balance
of 'the increase is more than accounted for by 262 cases of
Small-Pox.
The birth rate for the year again shews a slight decrease,
being 18.6 against 19.0 per thousand of the population
I am of opinion that the Council has every reason to
congratulate itself on its Maternity and Child Welfare service.
Its scope is wide, but, as I have pointed out elsewhere, additional
facilities are required, particularly in the West and North
Wards. It is gratifying to report that the Infant Mortality
Rate shews a reduction from 73.9 in 1928 to 64.4 in 1929 per
thousand births, the latter figure being the second lowest in
Bethnal Green statistics.
A great deal of my time has necessarily been taken up
with the occurrence of Small-Pox which I have dealt with more
fully on pages 68 to 71. I may, however, mention at this
point one great difficulty experienced in following up contacts,
i.e., the procuring of truthful statements. Many contacts do
not divulge the fact that they have been feeling " queer" and
even attempt to hide the appearance of the rash until the "spots"
become increased to an extent that concealment is no longer