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17
It will be seen that the Death Rate of Hendon compares
very favourably with that of England and Wales as a whole,
of London, of the 96 Great Towns and the 148 Smaller
Towns.
The percentage (36) of deaths of persons over 65 years
of age is high.
The Infant Mortality Rate is considerably higher than in
1920, in which year the rate was exceptionally low. The
rate for the past 5 years is shewn below :—
Year. Infantile Mortality Rate.
1917 74
1918 54
1919 73
1920 47
1921 61
It again compares very favourably with that of England
and Wales, London, and the Larger and Smaller towns.
The increase as compared with 1920 is in great measure
due to Infantile Diarrhoea (12 deaths in 1921 as against 2 in
1920). A considerable increase in the deaths from this
cause was to be expected as a result of the excessively hot,
dry summer, and I think that it is a matter for congratulation
that it is not higher. It represents a rate of 12 per 1,000
births as compared with :—
21.3 in London,
15.5 in England and Wales,
19.3 in the 96 Great Towns and
15.6 in the 148 Smaller Towns.
As regards the causes of death, the following points are
of interest.
There were no deaths from Measles or Scarlet Fever.
Of the 9 Diphtheria deaths, 8 occurred during a sharp
outbreak in the last month of the year, only one having
occurred in the previous 11 months. This heavy mortality
in December was due not only to an increase in the number
of cases, but also to a sudden and marked increase in the
severity of the disease.
A striking fact is that Cancer was the most important
single cause of death during the year. The Death Rate from
Cancer throughout the Country is steadily increasing while
that from most other causes is diminishing. This may to