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it is suggested, recent social progress and improvements in hygiene
have had more effect on women's living conditions. In 1952 in Lewisham
there were 28 male deaths and 14 female; the corresponding figures for
the previous year were 45 and 23, while for the two years 1937/8 the
combined figures were 169 males and 153 females.
Maternity and child welfare
There was very little variation in the principal rates, and the
slightness of the reduction in the neonatal rate with at the same time a
slight increase in the stillbirth rate, are both somewhat vexatious
factors. An analysis of the neonatal deaths indicates that 9 of the 52
were due to congenital deformities, 5 to injury at birth, 12 to asphyxia
or lack of expansion of the lungs at birth, and 17 (against 21 last year)
to prematurity or immaturity.
Food hygiene
The notified cases of food poisoning during the year amounted to
33, a slight increase from the 26 of the previous year, but this figure
is not exact since many cases no doubt do not come to our notice.
Throughout the year the food inspectors continued to give advice to
occupiers of food shops with regard to general hygiene and pest control.
Infectious disease other than tuberculosis
With regard to the more acute infections the year again showed a
high number of measles cases, but the 2183 cases fell far below the
record figure of 3546 in the previous year. Only one death resulted.
Dysentery cases, which had troubled us considerably in 1951, dropped
from 365 in that year to 169 in 1952, but this figure is still much higher
than in the years previous to 1951. There were 15 cases of poliomyelitis,
which with the endemic prevalence in this country of recent years can
be regarded as being on the low side. The increase which occurred in
the number of cases of puerperal pyrexia notified can be explained by
the more comprehensive definition of the term now in force. Scabies
again touched a new low record from its wartime high, and whooping
cough was rather less prevalent than in the previous two years. For
the third year in succession there was no case of diphtheria notified and
subsequently confirmed in the borough, but I would once more call
attention to the fact that this emphasises rather than minimises the
necessity for the protection of young children against the disease by
immunisation. Unless the child population remains well immunised
there is considerable danger of virulent diphtheria again becoming
prevalent.
Old people
There is relatively little to report on extensions of aid and service
given to old people in the borough and this rather indicates that the
committee's effort to help clubs get going and to help maintain them
in existence has not been fully successful. Nevertheless the Lewisham
Old People's Welfare Association did during the year develop its