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4
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report for the
year 1929 on the Health and Sanitary State of the Borough of
Lewisham, this being the twenty-ninth of the series.
The Vital Statistics contained therein show that Lewisham
still remains one of the healthiest of the London Boroughs.
The corrected death-rate for the year was 11.5 per thousand
of the population, as against 10.0 per thousand in 1928. This
rate compares favourably with the death-rate of 13.8 for the
County of London.
The birth-rate was 15.7 per thousand of the population,
and is a very slight increase on the year 1928, when the birthrate
was 15.2 per thousand.
The infant mortality, a most valuable index of the health of
the Borough, was 44 per thousand births, as against 52 per
thousand in 1928. This rate is the lowest ever recorded in
the Borough, and the lowest of any of the London Boroughs.
It is considerably below the average for the County of London,
which amounted to 70 per thousand births.
In the autumn an outbreak of Enteric Fever occurred in
the Sydenham district of the Borough, and adjoining portions
of Beckenham and Penge. There were 104 Lewisham cases,
with 15 deaths.
It is a pleasure to be able to record my appreciation of
the kind consideration and support accorded me by the Chairman
and members of the Public Health Committee and the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, and to thank my
colleagues, the Chief Officers of Departments, and the staff of
the Public Health Department, for their loyal support and
assistance.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
John W. Miller.
Public Health Department,
Lewisham Town Hall,
Catford, S.E. 6.
June, 1930.