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70
One does not expect big changes in these figures
from one year to another, but there are some differences
which although small in extent are rather significant.
In nutrition, for example, while those
marked " good " are practically the same as in 1934
those marked " below normal " have increased from
4.3% to 8.9%. In dentition also there seems some
falling off, 64.4% being passed as " all sound " as
against 67.5% last year. Once again I draw attention
to the paradoxical situation that in a borough where
the clothing and boot and shoe trades are noteworthy,
only 5.7% of the residents' children are well
clothed and shod ; this also represents a serious reduction
on the figure for 1934 which was 12.3%.
On the other hand, the high standard of personal
cleanliness of the children on which I have commented
in previous years, is well maintained, 99.5%
being clean of body and 98.2% clean of head.
CONTROL OF DISEASE.
For the second year in succession, the figures
for practically every infectious disease show a further
reduction. The total for all diseases in 1933 was
1,813, in 1934 it was 1,236, in 1935, 1,083. Just as it
was difficult to account for the abnormally high figures
for 1933, so it is not easy to explain why those for
last year should be low. It is probable that the
exceptional amount of sunshine during the year
had a beneficial effect. As reported last year the
incidence of infectious disease is affected by so many
factors that precise explanation of its variations,
especially for a single borough in contact with the
rest of the metropolis, is practically impossible.
It must be remembered that the statistics available
relate to notifiable diseases and that as Medical
Officer of Health I receive no precise information as
to the incidence of the more serious diseases such as
Rheumatism, Cancer, Diabetes, etc., which are
not notifiable. One very dangerous children's
disease, Whooping Cough, showed signs of increase