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veals the kind of figures one would expect. In the age
groups 30-49. approximately half the deaths are due to
malignant disease. In the higher age groups this proportion
decreases and the number of deaths from malignant disease
equals that from cardiac causes but after the age of GO
deaths from cardiac causes predominate more and more. It
is interesting to note in passing that 4 of the 7 suicides
occurring during 1956 were in the age group 50 59.
There has been an increase in the estimated population
of the district this year and both the birth rate and death
rate are higher than they have been for a few years. Com
parison of the corrected figures with the figures for
England and Wales however shows that the birth rate for
this district is lower and the death rate higher than the
corresponding rates for the whole country. The infant death
rate and the stillbirth rate for Hayes and Harlington are
both lower this year than last and compare favourably with
the rates for the district over the past few years.
The vaccination against poliomyelitis foreshadowed in
1955 has materialised and details will be found elsewhere
in this report No untoward effects are known to have
occurred in this district but it is too early to be able
to assess the effect on the incidence of the disease as a
whole. Only 6 cases (with 1 death) were notified in this
district as compared with 22 in 1955 but the rather poor
summer we experienced may have had some bearing on the
matter.
New legislation this year has included the Clean Air
Act which came into force on December 31st. It will be a
long time before the full effects are felt but it is hoped
that some improvement will be noticed with the gradual introduction
of smokeless zones.
Public Health in the district has received more publicity
this year owing to some of the Council s activities.
In May, detailed evidence of the work carried on was given
at the public enquiry in connection with the petition for
the grant of a Charter of Incorporation. At the Delegate
Conference in November the Chairman of the Public Health
Committee was well received when he presented a paper deal
ing with the history of public health in general and the
work carried out in the district at present. Included in
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