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To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the Metropolitan
Borough of Lewisham.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the
Vital Statistics and Sanitary Condition of the Borough for the
year ended December 31st, 1906, in compliance with the order
of the Local Government Board.
The mortality figures contained herein show that Lewisham
continues to hold a most favourable position, compared
with the other Metropolitan Boroughs.
The corrected Death-rate for the year amounted to 12.0
for every 1,000 persons living at all ages, compared with 11.7
for 1905. This Death-rate was the lowest in London with the
exception of Hampstead and Stoke Newington.
In addition to the general Death-rate, it is interesting to
examine the statistics relating to Infant Mortality, Zymotic
Diseases, and Phthisis.
Infant Mortality.—With regard to infant mortality
there was, during the year under review, a marked increase
throughout the country, due in a great measure to the high
summer temperature.
In Lewisham 113 infant deaths occurred in proportion
to every 1,000 births recorded, compared with 93 in 1905.
Several conditions influence this mortality, and there can be no
doubt that many sanitary reforms are urgently needed to assist
Sanitary Authorities in their efforts to check the wastage of
infant life. Some important measures are receiving the attention
of Parliament, and we may, before long, have enactments
which will be of considerable value. I refer particularly to the