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iv
Public Health Department,
Municipal Buildings,
Upper Street, N.l.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the report on the Health and Sanitary Condition
of the Borough for the year 1929.
The death-rate for 1929 was 14.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, as against 12.8 the
previous year.
The Infantile Mortality Rate was 73. The rate in the previous year, 1928,
was 64.
The rise in the rates is due to the epidemic prevalence of Influenza and
Whooping Cough, also an increase in the respiratory diseases.
Influenza deaths numbered 207, as against 41 in the previous year; Whooping
Cough numbered 126 as against 21 in the previous year; and deaths from
respiratory diseases were double those of the previous year.
The rise due to these causes was not confined to Islington but was fairly
general.
Of particular interest, I would refer to the number of cases of Smallpox.
The disease was of the mild type, but this is a disease which, as I have stated
before, is apt to linger owing to the large proportion of the population not
vaccinated or revaccinated.
This year also the work of the Voluntary Centres is reviewed up to the 31st
March, 1930. With these associations coming under the provisions of the Local
Government Act, 1929, our reports in future will end with the calendar year. In
the work of the Centres as reviewed, their statistics were adversely affected, as
ours; that is, the death-rate was raised by the epidemic outbreaks.
I feel that it is most appropriate here to refer to the sad losses the Council
and the department have sustained during the year by the passing of valued
officers. First in February our esteemed Town Clerk, Mr. C. G. E. Fletcher,
whose work and personal attributes marked him out among his colleagues ; then
in August, Mr. H. J. Bicknell, one of our old and esteemed Sanitary Inspectors.
In December no less than three deaths occurred, Mr. G. H. King, the Chief Clerk
of the Public Health Department, an outstanding man in his particular work,
after forty-seven years in the department; Mr. A. E. Pinchin, the Public Analyst,
and Mr. W. Woodley, one of our disinfecting staff. All these changes in one
year have affected the department seriously.
1 have to thank the Superintendent and members of my staff, and the Chiefs
of other departments, for their hearty co-operation during the year, and not least
the Charman and members of the Council and Committees for the help and
interest in the work.
Your obedient servant,
Eglarstiotles
Medical Officer of Health