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case of heavy smokers of middle age, to say that published
data indicate that there may be some diminution in risk to
those who give up smoking even after many years of addiction.
The infant mortality rate for 1955, that is the number of
children dying in the first year of life for every thousand
live births, was 20.41 compared with 19.32 per thousand in
1954. The rate compares favourably with that for England
and Wales, which was 24.9.
There were no maternal deaths during the year, and
indeed no maternal death has occurred in the Borough for
the third year in succession. This is a fine record and speaks
well for the obstetrical services in the area and for the
standard of ante-natal care available for the expectant
mother.
In regard to infectious diseases, measles reached
epidemic proportions in 1955, 975 cases being notified.
There were no deaths from this disease and, indeed, there
has been no death in the Borough from this cause for 4
years. The year, also saw an increased incidence of acute
poliomyelitis, 6 paralytic and 3 non-paralytic cases being notified.
This was in accordance with the national experience in
regard to this disease. There were no deaths in the Borough.
At the time of writing, vaccination against poliomyelitis
has, recently, commenced under arrangements made by the
Local Health Authority and it is hoped that the development
of this technique will bring this disease under some
measure of control- During the year, 47 new cases of
tuberculosis were notified compared with 67 in 1954 and 72
in 1953. The number of deaths from this disease fell to 7
compared with 9 in 1954 and 11 in 1953. For the sixth year
in succession no case of diphtheria occurred in the Borough.
A warning that diphtheria could return as a killing disease
is contained in the fact that in certain parts of the country
outbreaks of diphtheria have occurred, recently, resulting in
the death of a number of children. Parents should take heed
of this and should not fail to have their children immunised,
as the continued freedom from this disease depends on the
maintenance of a high level of immunisation among the
child population.
Standards of food hygiene, while greatly improved in
recent years, still leave much to be desired in many cases.
The protection of food exposed for sale from dust and flies,
and from the hazards inherent in its preparation and
handling, will call for increased efforts by the Health
Department, as well as the food traders and housewives,