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2
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Hammersmith, W.6.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith.
Ladies and Gentlemen,—I beg to present my Annual
Report for the Year 1936. The report deals with the vital
statistics, and with the work carried out under the direction
of your Council during the year. The statistical tables
included relate to the Public Health of the Borough.
The death-rate of 12.5 being 0.6 greater than the previous
year.
There were three maternal deaths as compared with two
in the previous year. The rate was equal to 1.5, whereas
the rate for the whole country was 3.6.
The infantile mortality rate has decreased from 70 to 60
per 1,000 births; the lowest rate recorded in the Borough.
The rate for the County of London increased from 58
to 66 per 1,000 births.
It is very gratifying to be able to report this decrease
in the number and rate of infant deaths.
It is perhaps significant that this should occur immediately
following the appointment of two whole-time
Assistant Medical Officers.
This is all the more encouraging as the reduction has
taken place during a year when infantile rates for the whole
of London has increased.
The efforts of your Council have been, as in the past,
considerably augmented by those of the Voluntary Societies
engaged in this branch of the Public Health Services of
the Borough.
During the year the new services provided by the Council,
i.e., the provision of a domiciliary midwifery service,