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HAM 35
3
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Hammersmith, W.6.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,—I submit herewith
a report upon the health of the Borough and the work
of the Public Health Department during 1943. In accordance
with instructions of the Ministry of Health the report
is in abridged form and consists for the most part of a
series of tables and statistics dealing with the vital
services.
Generally speaking the health of the Borough has remained
satisfactory despite the continuance of war-time
conditions.
The death rate for the year was 14.1 as compared with
14.0 in the previous year and the birth rate 19.2 as compared
with 17.8 in 1942. This birth rate is the highest
recorded for the Borough since 1923.
Compared with the previous year there were 69 less
cases of infectious diseases reported, although the number
of cases of scarlet fever notified increased from 282 to 410.
Cases of diphtheria were 7 fewer at 53. No deaths were
recorded from either of these diseases.
Objectors to diphtheria immunisation would do well to
ponder the following simple record of facts. In 1934 the
number of cases of diphtheria notified was 549 and there
were 25 deaths from the disease. In 1935 the immunisation
scheme was started in the Borough. In 1939 104
cases were notified and four of the children died. In the
year under review 53 cases were notified, none of which
proved fatal.
Cases of measles and whooping cough decreased by 64
and 150 respectively. 201 cases of tuberculosis were
notified and 72 deaths from that disease occurred during