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8
It will be easily understood that we have been somewhat
handicapped by this depletion, which has now been overcome by
the willingness of the remaining staff to give much additional
help, and the appointment of two temporary Clerks, one office
lad, and one Woman Health Visitor.
From the statistical returns it will be seen that Lewisham
still holds its satisfactory position as a healthy district. Its
recorded death rate is 10.9 per 1000 persons at all ages living
within the Borough. With the exception of Hampstead (which
is 10.4 per 1000) it is the lowest death rate in London.
The birth-rate shows a slight drop, being 19.5 per 1000
compared with 20.33 in 1913.
It is satisfactory to record the low infant mortality rate,
that is the number of infants dying under one year in relation
to each 1000 born, which amounted to 78.5, also the lowest in
London with the exception of Chelsea, which is 67 per 1000.
Again Lewisham shows the lowest death rate but one in
London from Phthisis. The total number of deaths from this
cause amounted to a total of 126, equal to a death rate of 0.75
per 1000. Hampstead records show the lowest rate of 0.64 per
1000.
During the months of August and September there occurred
generally throughout the Borough a considerable rise in the
incidence of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria. Unfortunately,
considerable delay and difficulty was experienced in obtaining
isolation in the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitals owing
to insufficient accommodation. Our efforts to prevent the spread
of infection were seriously handicapped. Your Council again