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On the whole, 1953 was uneventful. The vital
statistics of the district were satisfactory. The Birth
Rate remains virtually unaltered; the Death Rate rose, but
only by reason of the fact that deaths which occurred in
Friern Hospital now have to be included in our figures.
More pleasing is the fact that the Infantile Mortality Rate
fell from 37.5 to 23.3, while there has been a comparable
fall in the Still-birth Rate from 30.8 to 20.0. It should
be borne in mind that it would be illogical, indeed dangerous,
to draw significant conclusions from these figures. For
instance, it only requires, quite literally, one or two
infant deaths to raise the Infantile Mortality Rate out of
all proportion. It is none the less pleasing to be able
to report statistics which are a credit to the district.
The total number of infectious diseases notified
during the year rose from 357 to 540. This increase was
almost entirely made up of measles notifications, due to
the fact that Friern Barnet shared in the nation-wide
epidemic which was anticipated and in fact occurred during
the latter part of 1952 and the greater part of 1953. In
this connection, it is important to note that, quite apart
from the number of cases recorded, the type of infectious
illness met with was extremely mild.
Admission to hospital was seldom necessary, while
complications and sequelae were almost negligible. It is
also pleasing to. be able to record that only two cases of
poliomyelitis were reported during the year.
The whole field of epidemiology has changed within
recent years. The older infectious diseases have either
largely disappeared, e.g., diphtheria and typhoid fever, or
are declining, while others have completely altered in character.
This is particularly noticeable in the case of scarlet fever.
Not so long ago scarlet fever was quite a serious disease, with
many complications and an appreciable death rate. Nowadays,
this disease has little more than nuisance value, so much
so that many children suffering from scarlet fever are never
even seen by the family doctor. This should not give rise
to any sense of complacency. We know, for instance, that
scarlet fever has changed its character before; there is no
reason to believe that the same phenomenon will not happen
again. In addition, we now have to face the arrival of
new infectious diseases, especially those caused by the
virus family. Foremost amongst these is, of course,
poliomyelitis, although there is abundant evidence that
other virus diseases are beginning to make their appearance.
We must also realise that epidemiology itself has
taken on a new and broader outlook. We are no longer
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