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6
Public Health Department,
Temporary Offices,
15, Old Ford Road,
Bethnal Green, E.2.
30th May, 1939.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my annual report relative
to the Public Health work of the Metropolitan Borough
of Bethnal Green for the year 1938.
The general death rate at all ages from all causes was
11.3 per thousand of the population. When corrected
by the comparability factor of the Registrar General (1.13)
the rate becomes 12.8 which is 1.3 below that of the previous
year.
There were 78 deaths of infants under one year which
gives an Infant Mortality rate of 59 per 1000 births compared
with 54 in the previous year. The rate for London was 57.
This increase is more than accounted for by the deaths
due to Diarrhoæ and Enteritis which were responsible for
a rate of 21.3 per thousand against 9.5 in the previous year.
It is quite possible that some of the cases might have been
saved if medical advice had been sought earlier. It is unfortunate
that in many cases of illness at all ages the doctor
is not called in until the disease has become well advanced
and so lessens the chances of recovery. No doubt economic
circumstances are important factors in the delay.
The number of mothers dying in child birth was 2
which gives a Maternal Mortality rate of 1.4 per thousand
births. The rate for England and Wales was 3.1.