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5
arrive in Enfield and who require surveillance, and while I admit
the difficulties of legislating for stricter control of contacts, I feel
that with such a large proportion of the population of this country
unprotected against smallpox, a case can be made for greater
powers to deal with the control of contacts and greater powers
to ensure the possession of a valid vaccination certificate from
persons entering the country from infected areas.
Although for the second year in -succession no cases of Diphtheria
occurred, I must reiterate previous warnings that the number
of parents accepting Diphtheria Immunisation for their children
is not sufficiently high to warrant any sense of security.
The incidence of notifiable infectious disease in general, showed
a marked decrease on the previous year's figures, but this is mainly
accounted for by the nature of the cycle of prevalence normal to
Measles and Whooping Cough.
The Birth Rate reached a very low level, in fact the lowest
ever recorded. In this connection, it is satisfactory to note that
again no women died in, or in consequence of childbirth, and the
Still Birth Rate was lower than the previous year.
The Death Rate was the third lowest ever recorded and it is
interesting to note that nearly one third of the deaths occurred in
persons over eighty years of age, one being a female aged 102 years.
The Infant Mortality Rate, the lowest ever recorded, declined
to 21.65 and compared favourably with the figure of 29.8 for
England and Wales.
During the year a Clean Food Committee was set up to consider
any necessary action to be taken to promote clean and safe
food. Although the activities of the Committee extended into
1951, a report of the actions of the Committee up to the Campaign
Week in May, 1951 is included in this Report. In this connection,
I wish to record my appreciation of the hard work put into the
organisation of the Campaign by the Senior Sanitary Inspector,
Mr. A. N. Smith, on whom fell the burden of making the detailed
arrangements.
In conclusion, I should like once again to record my appreciation
of the efforts of the staff of the Health Department during
the past year.
William D. Hyde,
Medical Officer of Health.