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ANALYSIS OF VITAL STATISTICS
1. The Registrar General's mid-year estimate of population
for 1957 is 40,950. This is an increase of 290 on the previous year.
The two previous years showed a decrease of 70. The number of
persons per house remains the same in 1957 as in 1956 as the number
of inhabited houses has increased in the same ratio as the population.
2. The number of live births has decreased from 534 to 529. The
two previous years showed slight increases on the number of live
births. There has been a corresponding decrease in the birth rate
from 13.9 to 13.2. The rate is still .2 higher than it was in 1955.
The number of illegitimate births has fallen considerably in relation
to the previous year's figures, it is, however, slightly higher than the
average over the last 10 years. As stated in the last year's report
there is a wide fluctuation year by year in these figures and it is
only possible to draw definite conclusions when the trend over
several years is considered.
3. The infantile mortality rate is 22.2 as against 13.5 in 1956.
Last year, however, was an exceptionally low rate as the average
of the last five years is 18. This year's figure is in fact higher than
any other in that period. However, the total number of deaths this
year is 11 as against 7 last year, the rate is changed considerably
by one or two additional deaths. The death rate of illegitimate infants
is 0. As stated before these figures have little or no significance
as the numbers involved are so small.
4. The number of deaths from Cancer, 87, is a rise of 9 over
1956. Of this figure 28 deaths were due to Cancer of the Lung.
This shows an increase of 16 on 1956.
5. In Table IV there are 27 new cases of Tuberculosis, a decrease
of one on 1956. There are two deaths from this disease which is the
same as 1956. The low figures on this table are in keeping with the
general trend.
6. Infectious diseases show a very considerable increase during
the year mainly due to the 804 cases of measles notified. There was
an epidemic of measles during the year and probably the majority
of cases were notified. There were only four cases of food poisoning
notified. These cases were all isolated cases or cases occuring in
the same family. No outbreaks of food poisoning occurred in the
year.
Water
The water which is obtained from deep wells sunk into the chalk
is supplied by the Barnet District Water Company. The Company
maintains an up-to-date laboratory under the direction of a fully
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