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Deaths
The number of deaths during the year was 3,027 (1.579 males and 1,448
females) giving a crude death rate of 11*31 and a standardised death rate of 10.74
(England and Wales 117).
The more prevalent causes of death were cardio-vascular system, 1,468;
malignant neoplasm, 683; and diseases of the respiratory system (excluding malignant
neoplasm), 428.
Of the cardio-vascular causes, 665 were due to coronary disease (angina), 333
to vascular lesions of the nervous system, 268 to other heart disease, 164 to other
circulatory disease, and 38 to hypertension with heart disease.
Of the malignant neoplasm causes of death, 195 (of which 163 were males),
involved the lung and bronchus, 73 the stomach, 65 the breast, and 13 the cervix
of the uterus.
Of the diseases of the respiratory system, bronchitis accounted for 173 deaths,
pneumonia 227 deaths, and tuberculosis only six deaths.
There were no deaths during the year from diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis
or measles.
Forty-four per cent, of all deaths, i.e. 524 males and 801 females, were of
persons aged 75 years or more.
Thirty per cent., i.e., 309 males and 590 females, were of persons aged 80 years
or more.
Six males and 17 females were aged 95 years or more.
I regret to report that there was one maternal death.
Deaths of Infants
During the year, there were 66 deaths of infants under the age of one year, of
which 49 (74%) were under the age of four weeks and 47 (71%) under the age of
one week.
The Infant Mortality Rate for the Borough was 15.56, compared with 19.0
for England and Wales.
Most of the infant deaths occurred, as usual, under the age of one week. The
most common causes of death at this age were prematurity and congenital malformations.
It is in the reduction in the numbers of these neo-natal deaths and stillbirths
that we must hope for greater success in the future.
Several children died during the later months, also from congenital malformations,
but the most common cause was pneumonia and bronchitis.
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