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iv
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.l.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the Health and Sanitary
Condition of the Borough for the year 1932.
The death-rate for the year was 12.36, as against 12.6 in the previous year.
The infantile mortality rate was 68 per 1,000 births, the rate for the previous
year being 64. Note is made in the report of the changes which have taken place
in recent years which tend to produce some slight increase in the infantile mortality
rate, not that this rate is expected to reach the old figure now that so much work
is done on infant care, but the steadily decreasing birth-rate is a factor which is
discussed in the report.
Smallpox cases this year continued to be of the same mild type, which has
been designated " Variola Minor." The notified cases numbered 162, as against
66 in the previous year, and 244 in the year 1930.
For some years past it has been the habit to report on the work of the Voluntary
Welfare Centres up to the 31st March of the year after that to which the
Medical Officer of Health's report refers, e.g., the Annual Report for the year 1931
dealt with the Centres up to the end of March, 1932. This has been a factor in
delaying the issue of the report, because the Centre Reports may not appear until
some time after the following 31st March.
This year, such information as has come to hand is given up to the end of 1932
only, and in the report for 1933 the work of the Centres will be reported on up to
the 31st March of that year.
Last year as the report was late the Census Statistics were given, and they
are therefore not repeated in this report.
Mr. C. E. Horsman, a District Sanitary Inspector in the service of the Council
since April, 1902, died after a very few days illness in October, 1932. Mr.
Horsman was one of the Sanitary Inspectors loaned to the Ministry of Health just
after the War for special housing work. The unexpected and sudden loss of one
who had so long been associated with the Borough, and one who was respected by
all, was keenly felt by his colleagues and all associated with him.
I desire to thank the Chairman and Members of the Council and Committees
for the keen interest taken in the work of the department; and the Superintendent
and members of my staff generally for their ready help in all the work.
Your obedient Servant,
G.blark Trootter
Medical Officer of Health.