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of 1922 was prejudicial to the breeding of flies, and, in addition,
an active anti-fly campaign was conducted by the Health Department
from March to September. The breeding-places of flies
were discovered and abolished, manure-heaps were removed and
sprayed with borax, and instruction was given to the mothers
at the maternity centres regarding the protection of their infants
from the few flies that were found in the district.
Cancer was given as the cause of death in 145 instances.
Reference to Table C. will show how the death-rate from Cancer
has increased of recent years. Much of this increase is due to
the fact that we have a larger proportion than formerly of persons
over 45 years of age.
Tuberculosis was given as the cause of death in 70 instances
Details are shown in Tables B. and C. The general problem of
the control and treatment of tuberculosis is in the hands of the
Middlesex County Council.
Heart Disease caused 89 deaths.
Old Age was returned as the cause of death in 81 cases.
Altogether 468 persons over the age of 65 died in the Borough
during the past year.
Venereal Diseases cause an amount of invalidism and mortality
which is difficult to estimate. Many cases of blindness,
deafness, paralysis and heart disease are due either to gonorrhoea
or to syphilis, and to these diseases we can attribute a large
number of all abortions, miscarriages, still births and deaths of
newly-born children. It has been stated that, directly and indirectly,
venereal diseases cause more deaths than Cancer and
Tuberculosis together; however that may be, they certainly give
rise to much more disability and crippling. On no subject connected
with health is education more necessary; for, of all the
infectious diseases, these are the most disastrous and fatal. In
the future, when Continuation Schools are established and when
hygiene is taught in our Secondary Schools, an opportunity will
arise for giving the young adults of this country some instruction
regarding the dangers of these infections.