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such a standard that they will become so within a decade unless
some action is taken to prevent it.
The number of families living in one room has reached such
serious proportions that it will need a superhuman effort to solve
the problem of providing housing accommodation for them.
Epidemiology—has always been a function of the Local
Authority, but only in a limited sense. It concerned itself with
infectious disease.
The aims of epidemiology today present a very different
picture. Not only is your Public Health Department concerned
with the notification, disinfection, investigation, isolation or
removal of cases to hospital, exclusion of contacts, but also the
aetiology and prevention of all diseases—this is as it should be.
From this it can be seen that the Borough Council is
concerned with everything which affects the health of the individual
or community, whether in the factory or at home.
We have now within our reach in the Public Health
Laboratory Service a means to deal effectively with many circumstances
relating to infection before it actually reaches the confines
of the Borough. In this way it is to be hoped that in the near
future even minor infections will come under control.
The convenience of this Service should be one of particular
interest to the Borough Council.
Birth Rate—again fell slightly below last year, and it must
be emphasised here that the economic outlook of the family as
well as the difficulty of obtaining suitable housing accommodation
is largely responsible for this.
Death Rate.—Although comparing favourably with the rest
of the country, has risen. There is nothing in particular to draw
attention to as to the cause of this; it is due to a general rise all
round. It should be noted, however, that there is an increase in
the number of deaths from cancer.
I am pleased to be able to say that there is a marked fall in
the Infantile Death Rate, we have now achieved the creditably
low figure of 24 per 1,000 live births. I think I mentioned to the
Committee some time ago that the Infantile Death Rate should
be capable of reduction to 22 per 1,000 live births, and it will be
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