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To the MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COUNCILLORS of the
BOROUGH of SOUTHGATE.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present to you the Annual Report of the
Medical Officer of Health for the year 1944.
The Report is again a short one, in accordance
with the instructions of the Minister of Health and
gives little more than a brief record of the Health
Department's activities during the year.
The year has been a good one from the health
standpoint, and the incidence of infectious disease
very much lower than in 1943. The vital statistics
show little change from the previous year, except in
the Infantile Mortality-Rate, which at 38 per 1,000
live births compares unfavourably with that for the
previous year, which was 33. The Birth-Rate of
17.07 is very slightly higher than that for 1943 and
the highest recorded since 1920. The Death-Rate
was 12.5 as compared with 12.2 in 1943.
By the death in April, a few days after his
retirement on account of ill-health, the Council lost
the services of Mr. L. Skeeles, the Senior Sanitary
Inspector, who had served the community faithfully
for 32 years, very quietly but very efficiently.
To fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Skeeles's retirement,
Mr. R. L. Burkill was appointed and commenced
duty in February.
I wish to express to the Chairmen and Members
of the Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare
Committees my appreciation of the support and
consideration they have given, as always, to the work
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