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TO HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF PADDINGTON.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Report on the vital statistics and work of your
Public Health Department during the years 1919 and 1920. This present is, I hope, the last of
the Reports to be prepared without the very essential data relating to population. In the
preparation of this Report and that for the years 1914-18 which was presented to you last year,
I have felt myself in the position of an accountant who attempts to draw up a balance sheet
without knowledge of his income and assets. Before the close of the current year I hope to
receive the results of the Census taken in June. In the absence of data as to population by which
to measure the rates of natality, mortality, &c., resort has been had to Index Numbers which show
the extent of the variations in the records for the years under review when compared with selected
standards, either the average for the quinquennium 1909-13 or that of 1914-18.
Taken as a whole, I think it may be safely concluded that the records for the two years are
exceptionally satisfactory. The evidence adduced in the Report more than suggests that the
population of the Borough has increased, though that fact may not be regarded by all as altogether
satisfactory having regard to the high density of population found at the Census of 1911. As
observed after previous wars, the number of births notably increased after the cessation of
hostilities, and the birth rate will probably be found when the new Census data are available to
have been exceptionally high. In one respect the records of the past years are notably exceptional
in that the (presumably) high birth rate has not been associated with a high rate of infantile
mortality, the recorded rates of the latter being the lowest yet observed.
Cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever were above the average, but as regards the former
disease some of the excess recorded is explained by the frequency of " swabbing." The statistics
relating to scarlet fever suggest that the strain of the causal organism had a high infectivity, but,
as shown by the small number of deaths, a low virulence.
The records relating to tuberculosis show a diminished prevalence of this disease, and more
than suggest a reduced mortality. It is too early to decide whether this satisfactory record can be
claimed as a sign of success of the " campaign " which may be said to have been initiated some
ten or more years ago, or whether the change is merely cyclical. On the other hand, the mortality
from the various malignant neoplasmata connoted by the popular designation of "cancer" shows
a continued increase. To some extent, I suppose, an increase is almost inevitable owing to the
increased proportion of the population at the higher ages of life.
As already stated, the rates of infantile mortality observed during the two years are the lowest
on record. I think some of the observed reduction in mortality can be safely attributed to the
activities forming " Infant Welfare Work," but not all. Low mortality rates have been observed
in districts where those activities are practically non-existent. On the other hand, the saving of
lives between the ages of three and twelve months suggests that Welfare Work has not been
without some influence.
One outstanding feature of the two years has been the " Housing Campaign." In this
Borough there is no land available for new houses, and the existing premises are practically all
occupied. To provide for any notable increase of population, houses built for one family must be
either sub-let to two or more families or be " converted " into flats and maisonettes. Conversion