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come to stay. In the course of the last two years there has been
observable on all sides a tendency for discussions on birth control
to centre upon practical rather than upon moral issues. It is estimated
that the number of couples who practice abstinence as a
contraceptive method is so small as to be negligible. The use of
contraceptive methods is practised amongst most classes of the
population.
Although the birth-rate in the South-West Ward is still
higher than that in the rest of the district the fall in the rate has
been as marked in that ward as was the fall observed in the other
wards. The notified bitrhs were distr'buted as follows :—
North-East. North-West. South-East. South-West.
274 213 127 261
The birth-rate in each ward was:—
12.2 12.7 7.7 17.6
DEATHS.
492 deaths were registered in the district; of these 31 did not
belong to Acton, and were transferred to other districts.
329 deaths of Acton residents occurred outside the area and
have been included in our returns.
The total number of deaths belonging to the district is therefore
788, which corresponds to a death-rate of 11.2 per 1,000 inhabitants.
There is a slight discrepancy between this number and that
of the Registrar General because his numbers are those registered
during the calendar year. His number is 783 and mine is 788.
My number is correct as far as information has been received of
the total number of deaths which occurred in 1933.
Causes of Death.
Considerable attention has recently been drawn to the great
increase in the number of deaths from certain diseases. In one
sense, there is a paradox in the present situation regarding some
diseases, such as Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, etc. There
has been an unquestionable improvement in the treatment of these
diseases. Nevertheless, there has occurred an increase in the