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again rose to 7·7 whilst that for the country generally fell to 5·0: and
for London to 6·9
It should be recognised that these figures are not by any means
necessarily an index of morality, nor do they constitute the serious
threat to infant life that they once did. Nevertheless, infant mortality
is still appreciably higher for illegitimate infants than for others, and
over and above the threat to life there can be no doubt that such
children face life with many handicaps that hinder their full physical
and mental development. Consequently I cannot regard the rate
but with considerable concern from the standpoint of Public Health.
The Tuberculosis Death Rate again fell and was 0·56 per
thousand.
The incidence of all infectious diseases except Pneumonia
and Whooping Cough was lower than the average for either London
or the whole country, and the rate for Pneumonia was only slightly
higher than these averages, and for Whooping Cough although
slightly more than that for London was lower than that for England
and Wales. In the substance of the report, I have referred at length
to the milestone reached in Finsbury when for the first time there
was no case of Diphtheria during the year.
Several outbreaks of Food Poisoning occurred but none were
serious. The problem of carriers arose on more than one occasion.
Investigations in one case produced some evidence than hens kept
under unsuitable conditions might have been a source of infection
and the results were published in the Ministry of Health Bulletin.
A feature of the year's work was the inauguration of a holiday
scheme for aged persons whereby a fortnight's holiday at the seaside or
in the country was made available to all men in the Borough above
65 and women above 60 at, in nearly all cases, a cost of 10/- a week
to the individual. This was arranged through grants to voluntary
organisations maintaining suitable Holiday Homes. The scheme
proved very successful and it is believed has helped many to retain
health of body and vigour of mind, as well as having provided much
pleasure.
The sanitary conditions generally remained reasonably satisfactory
though many open sites still remain an eyesore and also a