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situation is still far from satisfactory. It is
perhaps unfortunate that, although we are continuallybeing
pressed to carry out research and investigation,
the Public Health staff of such an area as the Urban
District of Friern Bnrnet finds precious little time
to indulge in more than its share of routine work.
Sometime in the future, this pattern may be reversed.
tyJhen it is, it will be all to the good.
Infant Mortality.
There were 16 deaths of infants under
1 year of age. This gives an infant death rate of
44.7 per 1,000 live births as compared with 5 deaths
and a rate of 14.1 in the preceding year.
Among the 16 infants who died in Friern
Barnet during 1961, before they had reached the age
of 12 months, 11 failed to survive one week and 11
died under four weeks. Every infant death is
carefully scrutinised.
The infant mortality rate for Friern
Barnet was unusually high during 1961. This
happened before, only a few years ago, and is a clear
indication that these rates are of little value when
one is dealing with such a small number of infant
deaths. One would not for a moment suggest that
every infant deaths is not a tragedy. None the
less, as I have just indicated, an infant mortality
rate which covers only a comparatively small number
of births has little significance.
Still Births.
10 stillbirths, nine legitimate and one
illegitimate, were accredited to the District for 1961.
This is equal to a death rate of 27.2 (live and still
births), the corresponding figures for I960 being
4 stillbirths with a rate of 11.2.
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