View report page

Annual Report for the Year 1921
of the
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
"Burroughs House,"
, Hendon, N.W. 4.
April 1922.
To The Chairman and Members of the
Urban District Council of Hendon.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit to you my Report for the
year 1921. A new form of Report has been prescribed by
the Ministry of Health and this has been adopted, but I
have retained certain features of former Reports which
appeared to me to be of interest.
Speaking generally, the year has been a good one from
the point of view of the Public Health, in spite of several
adverse influences.
The exceptionally high rate of unemployment with all
its attendant privations might have been expected to have
a serious effect on the health of many people.
The prolonged drought and spell of very hot weather
which were experienced are also factors usually regarded
as unfavourable to the Public Health.
The year was one of exceptionally high prevalence of
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever in London and other
neighbouring districts.
Notwithstanding these conditions the recorded death
rate stood at the very low figure of 79 which is almost
exactly the same as that of 1920 which was 78. The
Infant Mortality Rate although higher than that of 1920
(61. as compared with 47. ) is still a very low rate.