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4
VITAL STATISTICS.
The Birth Rate (13.4) was slightly lower than in 1935, and
was 1.4 per 1,000 less than that for the whole of England and
Wales, whilst the Death Rate (10.7) showed a small rise upon
1935. This rise was predicted in a previous report, in view of
the lower birth rate over a period of years past, and the consequent
raising of the mean age of the population. It was, however,
1.4 per 1,000 less than for the whole of England and Wales.
A further reduction in the Infantile Mortality was effected
and the new low record of 41 per 1,000 live births was attained.
This is one of the lowest among all county boroughs in England
and Wales, and the lowest among towns of over 200,000 inhabitants.
Through the kindness of the Medical Officer of Health of
Portsmouth, a comparative table has been inserted showing
various items of vital statistics, and from this table the favourable
position of Croydon is noticeable. The changing character of
Croydon from a mainly residential to an industrial centre will
tend to be reflected in the vital statistics in coming years. This
can be combated by appropriate preventive measures and expansion
of the health, housing, and other social services.
The commoner infectious diseases showed a further decrease
in incidence and in mortality. This was especially noticeable in
the case of Diphtheria. Measles showed an increase; this ailment,
however, tends to occur in two-yearly cycles, so that the
rise of the incidence and mortality in 1936 will probably be
followed by a decline in 1937. Apart from this epidemic during
the first quarter of the year, there was no undue incidence of
infectious sickness.
The chief causes of death were substantially the same as in
1935. Cancer, for some reason at present unascertained, showed
a large increase and reached a maximum figure for the town.
Diseases of the Heart and Circulatory System, Cancer and the
Respiratory diseases caused 69 per cent, of the total deaths.
Pulmonary and Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis showed a continuance
of the slow but steady decline noticed in recent years.
The section dealing with the work at Mayday Hospital
demonstrates the changing character of that work. Slowly but
surely the hospital is becoming more of a general hospital an
less of a Poor Law Institution. When the chronic sick and
infirm are accommodated at Queen's Road, Mayday will be able