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iv
Public Health Department,
Municipal Buildings,
Upper Street, N.l.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1 have the honour to submit the report on the Health and Sanitary Condition
of the Borough for the year 1928.
The death-rate for 1928 was 12.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, as against 12.3 in
the previous year. It can be considered with satisfaction as being a low rate.
The Infantile Mortality Rate was. 64. The rate in the previous year, 1927,
was 53, but this was an exceptional rate, the lowest on record. The rate for
1926 was 66.
In the report for this year some matters are dealt with which have at the
moment a special interest. These do not fall to be commented on annually. 1
refer particularly to the occurrence of Smallpox, a disease which may be apt to
linger; to the inspection of food, analysis of drugs, etc., and to the note on
scavenging, particularly as regards waste paper and broken bottles.
It will be noted that as regards the report on the work of the Voluntary
Infant Welfare Centres, the year reported on ends on the 31st March, 1929. Thus
the Centre work is reported on in advance. It is found, however, each year to be
increasingly difficult to do this. In future years the Report on the Centre work, I
fear, will have to be slightly in arrears rather than in advance.
It is proper here (rather than as an item in a bulky Report) to express my
appreciation of the help the Department has received from the Members of the
Council and Committees, the assiduity of my Chairmen, and not least from the
hearty co-operation of my staff and the courtesy and assistance of the Chiefs of
the other departments, all of which has meant so much in attaining the results
here reported.
Your obedient servant,
Medical Officer of Health.