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9
COMMENTS ON VITAL STATISTICS
Births.
The post-war increase in the birth-rate reached its peak of 23.55 per thousand
population in 1947. In 1948 there was a marked decrease to 19.34, and then a
slow and steady decrease until 1951. Since then there has been a tendency for the
birth-rate to rise again, and the rate of 18.9 for 1956 represents the highest rate
for the past eight years.
9.3 per cent of all 1956 births were classified as illegitimate.
Deaths.
It was believed at one time that if the births increased, the deaths also increased
in proportion. Whether this was correct or not in the past, it is certainly not true
today. The death rate is, if anything, fractionally lower than in 1955.
Infants under One Year. The lowest infant mortality was recorded in 1954,
but the second lowest proportion of infant deaths took place in 1956. It is satisfac—
tory to note that the infant mortality in Islington, in spite of many adverse social
circumstances—particularly housing—was lower than the average for England and
Wales, in spite of the fact that the birth-rate in Islington was substantially
higher than that for the whole country. This says much for the standard of
maternal care, and the standard also of all the medical and related services available
in the area for expectant mothers and their young infants. From the table given of
the summary of Infant Mortality on page 8, 29 out of the 91 infant deaths
took place within the first twenty-four hours (i.e. 32 per cent). 32 (or 35 per
cent) did not survive up to the end of the first week, making a total proportion of
67 per cent of infants who died within seven days of birth. The two major causes
of non-survival, as usual, were prematurity, and the group of congenital malforma'
tions and birth injuries, etc. Of the thirty infants who died in the succeeding
eleven-month period, the principal cause was respiratory infection due to bronchitis
or pneumonia in ten cases.
Respiratory Tuberculosis. The total of 34 deaths ascribed to pulmonary tuber—
culosis was the lowest recorded in the health history of the Borough, the previous
lowest figure being 37 in 1954, and is an indication of the increasing control over
the course of this disease.

The improving position in regard to tuberculosis of the lungs is unfortunately
not matched by an improvement in deaths due to lung cancer. On the contrary, these
have tended to increase, and the highest figures recorded for the Borough were in
1956. The approximate proportion of five male to one female death appears to remain