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5
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Hornsey.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the Public
Health for the year ending December 31st, 1944.
It is common knowledge to those who read the daily papers
and listen to the news over the air that the health of this country
has been maintained at a high standard through nearly six years
of war. There have been no serious epidemics such as the worldwide
pandemic of influenza which followed immediately on the
European War of 1914-18, and cost many more lives in four
months than were lost in four years of warfare.
The chief vital statistics of the Borough seen in comparison
with past years in Hornsey and also with the corresponding
figures for England and Wales, the 126 County Boroughs and
"Great Towns," the 148 Smaller Towns, and London, are set out
in Table A. From this comparison it will be seen that the birth
rate of 19.08 per 1,000 of population is the highest for a quarter
of a century; the infant mortality at 38.39 per 1,000 live births
is well below the figures for England and Wales, the Great Towns,
the Smaller Towns and London.
The death rate of 14.94 is the highest (except 15.16 for
1940) ever recorded, and compares unfavourably with the figures
for England and Wales, Great Towns, and Smaller Towns. The
explanation of this figure is the high proportion of aged persons
in the Borough. On account of the exceptional age-constitution
of our population, this figure must remain high.
The Minister of Health (Circular 49/45) mentions " certain
subjects of current interest in particular," on which observations
should be made, e.g., Tuberculosis, Venereal Disease, premature
and illegitimate infants and infestation.
Tuberculosis and Venereal Disease.
These have been referred to in propaganda on public health
by various authorities, high and low, as the " black spots " on
our otherwise satisfactory vital statistics. I am happy to be
able to report that they are amongst the " high lights " of the
picture in this Borough. The deaths from tuberculosis in 1944
totalled 42 (39 pulmonary and 3 non-pulmonary), which is the
smallest number ever recorded.
It is not quite so easy to state the position in regard to the
venereal diseases, because they are not notifiable as such.
Venereal diseases have, however, repercussions in various directions,
which enable a Medical Officer of Health, in close touch
with the population, through the Maternity and Child Welfare
and School Medical Departments, to become aware of any
striking rise or fall in the incidence of V.D. For example,
Ophthalmia Neonatorum (inflammation of the eyes of the newborn
infant) is notifiable. In its most acute forms it is generally
due to gonococcal infection of the infant's eyes, contracted in
birth from the mother. The notifications of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
totalled 13 in the five years '1940-1944 inclusive, against
28 notified in the five years 1935-1939. Then at the Ante-natal
Clinics, where expectant mothers in hundreds (including young
^ women recently in the Forces) are examined periodically, there