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VII TO HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN, AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
BOROUGH OF PADDINGTON.
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Ninth Annual Report on the Health of the Borough, and
the work of the Public Health Department during the past year. I regret that the Report
has not been presented earlier, as it has been complete some weeks, but the delay has been
due to causes beyond my control.
The death-rate during 1902 was lower than that of 1901, which was described in my
last Annual Report as"the lowest recorded in the last eleven years."The statistics for the
years prior to 1891, with reference to the Borough as now constituted, are not available.
Last year's death rate was 1.55 per 1,000 below the mean rate for the preceding decennium,
which represents a saving of 225 lives. The only regrettable feature in connection with this
subject is the fact that the infantile mortality does not bear its proper proportion in the
decline. Inasmuch as climatic conditions greatly influence this mortality it is of little use to
compare individual years. The proper comparison is that of two groups of years at long
intervals from each other. Such comparison is possible only with reference to the two Registration
Sub-Districts, St. Mary and St. John. The figures given on page 32 of the Report show
that the mortality during the decennium 1892-1901 was considerably higher than that for
the earliest period on record, viz., 1857-60. With a declining birth rate and an increasing
infantile mortality, the growth of the population of the country must, in the absence of
effective measures to counteract the above, be dependent on immigration. If the immigrants
be of a high class, such addition to the population is an advantage. The class of the immigrants
at present arriving is a matter of general knowledge—and a cause of disquietude. The
time has come when more efforts must be made to limit the waste of native-born children.
Much may be done by Departmental work, aided by the co-operation of the medical profession,
the clergy, district visitors, and others, but what is most wanted is better education
of girls in those subjects which are requisite to fit them to be wives and mothers. Indeed,
were such subjects as the principles of domestic economy (meaning housewifely management,
and thrift) and hygiene included in the course of teaching in all public elementary schools,
manv of the present day evils would be greatly minimised. I believe that, if the women of
the poorer classes were better informed as to the great variety in cheap, nutritive, and
appetising foods which are at their disposal, were trained in simple cookery and home management,
the housing question would be in part solved, that intemperance would be less prevalent,
and that children would come into the world with greater vitality, and be brought up in
surroundings more favourable to their development as robust individuals and good citizens.
The most interesting feature of the year has been the outbreak of small-pox which began
in 1901. In the Borough the outbreak continued to the middle of last year, and was as abrupt
in its termination as in its onset. Unfortunately I cannot say that there is no danger of a
further outbreak. Cases of the disease have continued to occur in other parts of the Metropolis,
and in many parts of the Provinces. Should there be a recrudescence of the disease,
the Health Service of the Metropolis will be found even better organized to cope with it than
it was in 1901.
The Department has been able to carry out the various duties foreshadowed in my Report
of last year. As time goes on the Staff will be able to find time to undertake other duties