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ii.
The still-births registered were 131 as compared with 100
in 1945, the rate, however, was 26.5 per 1,000 total live and stillbirths,
which was 0.7 per 1,000 less than in 1945.
The Infantile mortality was 31 per 1,000 live births, a decrease
of 10 per 1,000 upon 1945, and the lowest ever recorded. The
maternal mortality rate was 0.61 per 1,000 total births. The
infant mortality of legitimate children was 31.4, of illegitimate
35 per 1,000 live births.
Full statistics are included of the work done at Mayday
Hopital. These show that the hospital has definitely assumed
the status of a large general hospital.
The major causes of death among the population were:
Cardiac and Circulatory System Diseases and conditions (5.40
per 1,000 of the population), Cancer (1.93), diseases of the
Respiratory System, including Tuberculosis (1.69), Diseases of
the Digestive System (0.48), and deaths due to suicide and
violence (0.49).
Notifiable Infectious Diseases remained low in incidence.
There were nine deaths from this group of conditions, namely
three from Whooping Cough, three from Diphtheria, two from
Cerebro-Spinal Fever and one from Measles.
The Home Helps Scheme under which help is afforded in
the home in instances of acute illness and maternity, had a busy
year, and on several occasions there were insufficient helps to meet
the demand. The service expanded from 21 full-time and nine
part-time helps, to 35 whole-time and 10 part-time. A total of 638
cases were helped.
The Ambulance Service also was fully extended, as was
expected on the Service being made free within the Borough.
An increase of 8,875 calls over 1945 was recorded, and the
mileage travelled was doubled. The detailed analysis of accidents
is worthy of close study, and the fall in the number of street
accidents to children seems to show the effect of Safety First
training in schools. The most dangerous times of the 24 hours
were from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Immunisation against Diphtheria was pursued with especial
attention to children under school age. The low incidence of
Diphtheria was maintained and it is significant that of the 43 true