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East Barnet Urban District Council
EIGHTY-SEVENTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR 1960
To the Chairman and Members of the
East Barnet Urban District Council.
I have the honour to present my report for the year 1960.
It has been said repeatedly that it is unwise to attempt to draw
conclusions from the statistics of an area of the size of East Barnet
and this contention is further proved (if proof were necessary) by
several items in this year's tables. The best example is perhaps that
of Infant Mortality where the jump last year produced a disquieting
figure—this year we are back to normal. But the total of deaths due
to congenital abnormalities remains at the same disturbing figure as
last year—with no possible explanation at the moment. This comment
also applies to deaths from leukaemia—a similar puzzle. There is a
notable absence of tuberculosis from amongst the causes of deaths—
the first time on record so far as this district is concerned and here
at least it is likely that the figures are to be believed in their full
implication as a truly great triumph.
The graphs showing the 10 year birth rate and death rate per 1,000
of population show that East Barnet remains faithful to its tradition
of a lower birth rate (and also a slightly lower death rate) than the
average for the country—and it is felt that different people may take
different views as to which is the more creditable.
From among the various detailed sections of the Chief Public
Health Inspector's report there are perhaps three that merit special
mention. First and foremost—HOUSING. No effort has been spared
to improve housing conditions in the district by all possible means.
It is realized that there are still far too great a number of families
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