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5
it is not, always, easy to achieve that inward peace of mind
which is, undoubtedly, a prerequisite of the health of the
individual.
On a more optimistic note, an important criterion of the
health of a community, as of an individual, is the degree of
activity which it undertakes. Judged by this standard, the
Borough acquits itself well. The official list of organisations
operating in the Borough runs into twelve pages of typescript
and covers a very wide range of activities with the cultural,
social and charitable organisations much in evidence. The
cumulative work of these organisations represents a very
considerable force working for the good of the community.
Many instances could also be quoted in which neighbourly
help and solicitude by individuals have made it possible for
the old and infirm to remain in their own homes in conditions
of relative peace and contentment. It would not be an
exaggeration to say that never in the history of the Borough
has greater voluntary effort been expended in the care of
the elderly and the handicapped than is the case today.
Turning to those aspects of health in which definite
information is available, the vital statistics for the Borough
were, once again, saisfactory. The birth rate at 13.86 per
thousand showed an increase over the rate of 13.51 in 1954,
which was the lowest birth rate ever recorded in the Borough.
There has been no reversal of the downward trend which has
been noticeable since the turn of the century. The standardised
birth rate which allows for comparison with other parts
of the country was also 13.86 and was well below that for
England and Wales which was 15.0 per thousand. The stillbirth
rate at 23 01 per thousand total births showed a
decrease over 1954 (29.69), but this has no special significance
and the rate was substantially the same as that for
England and Wales.
The death rate for the Borough fell slightly to 9.58 per
thousand of the estimated whole population (9.9 in 1954)
and the standardised death rate of 10.44 was below the
death rate for England and Wales for 1955 which was 11.7
per thousand. Cancer of the lung was responsible for 18
deaths and showed an increase of 5 compared with 1954
Fourteen of the 18 deaths were in males. There has been
much controversy over the part played by smoking in the
causation of lung cancer, and it is safe to say that while
statistical evidence does not provide definite proof that
cigarette smoking directly causes cancer of the lung, the
accumulated evidence is such as to denote a cause and
effect relationship. In the circumstances it seems reasonable
to advise young people not to take up smoking and, in the