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The incidence of all the infectious diseases was considerably
lower. There was no death from Whooping Cough and Scarlet
Fever and a diminution in the number of deaths from Measles and
Diphtheria.
There were 5 maternal deaths; 3 from sepsis following abortion.
There is reason to think that the practice of abortion is
widespread, not only in this district but also in other surrounding
districts.
A feature of recent annual reports has been the inclusion
of deaths from germ disease of the central nervous system, such
as encephalitis lethargica, cerebro-spinal meningitis, anterior poliomyelitis,
&c.
Last year 4 deaths occurred from encephalitis lethargica,
or sleepy sickness.
Cancer still seems to be on the increase and last year claimed
a higher number of deaths.
The following is a summary of the vital and other statistics
for the year 1931:—
Area of Borough 2,305 acres
Population (estimated midsummer 1931) 70,560
Population (Census 1931) 70,523
Number of inhabitated houses (Census 1931)— figures not yet
available
Number of inhabited houses (end of 1931) according
to Rate Book 15,803
Number of families or separate occupiers (Census
1931 figures not yet
available
Rateable Value (1st October, 1931) £700,401
Net produce of a penny rate ((year ending 31st March,
1931) £2,812 13s. 5d
Total number of births registered 1,019
Legitimate 962
Illegitimate 57
Birth-rate per 1,000 inhabitants 14.4
Number of deaths 742
Death-rate per 1,000 inhabitants 10.5
Number of women dying in, or in consequence of
childbirth—
from sepsis 1
from abortion 3
from other causes 1
Maternal mortality per 1,000 births 5