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year in succession the absence of Diphtheria, but this, in my opinion,
must not be interpreted as a sign of its complete elimination, but
rather as an encouragement and challenge to continue our efforts
to secure that all children receive adequate and timely protection
by immunisation in order to maintain this freedom from a serious
disease*.
In 1950 a very low number of deaths from all forms of Tuberculosis
was recorded (about half the average for many preceding
years) but unfortunately there was a remission in 1951. This year
again, however, the low and encouraging figure of 21 deaths has
been recorded.
Enfield, in common with so many other localities, suffered
from a few days of thick fog in December. As was to be expected,
the death returns showed a sudden rise in deaths due to pneumonia
and other respiratory conditions, in the period immediately following
the fog. About 3 weeks after the fog, when the deaths due to
respiratory conditions had fallen considerably, the number of
notifications of pneumonia reached a fairly high level and this was
again followed by an immediate rise in the number of deaths caused by pneumonia
and other respiratory conditions, although these deaths were not
related to the notifications. A careful study of the available
vital statistics and meteorological data failed to elicit any information
on which new conclusions could be based.
The Birth Rate continuing its general post-war downward
trend reached the lowest rate recorded this Century, namely 13.1.
The Death Rate of 9.66 was lower than last year. Almost one
quarter of the deaths occurred in persons over 80 years of age, one
woman at the age of 101 years, one man at the age of 100 years,
and 6 women between the ages of 95 years and 98 years.
Although the total deaths were almost equally divided between
males and females, only 41 per cent, of the deaths over 80 years
were males. These proportions are similar to the previous year's
figures.
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.