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MORTALITY
General Mortality and Death Rate.
The nett number of deaths accredited to the district was 943,
42 more than in 1957.
This gives a crude death rate of 13.30 per 1,000 of the population
and corrected death rate of 10.9 (the rate for 1957 being 12.6).
From the table which sets out the causes of death during 1958
(page 14), it will be seen that deaths due to diseases of the heart
and circulation made up slightly more than 50% of the total deaths
recorded during the year. This repeats the findings of the past
few years. The continued appearance in our mortality statistics
of deaths from coronary occlusion, together with other diseases of
the heart and circulation, especially among males during what
should be the prime of life, is most disturbing. Various reasons
have been advanced to explain these catastrophes, although no
single explanation would seem to meet the case. The increasing
stress and strain of modern life, together with errors of diet, have
both been accused, although there may very well be some other
factor or factors which have not yet come to light. Whatever the
cause, this is obviously a matter which calls for the most profound
study. For the same reason, the increase in deaths from cancer of
the lung provides another avenue which should be explored, must
be explored as a matter of real urgency. Although one cannot say
that there are any specific factors particularly to Southgate which
encourage coronary thrombosis or lung cancer, it is clearly evident
that health education has an important part to play in providing
the necessary advice and guidance, at least along general lines.
Infant Mortality.
There were 17 deaths of infants under 1 year of age, which
gives an infant death rate of 21.0 per 1,000 live births, as compared
with 16 deaths and a rate of 20.1 in the preceding year.
Among the 17 infants who died in Southgate during 1958
before they had reached the age of twelve months, no fewer than
14 were under the age of one month. Of these 14, 13 failed to
survive one week. These deaths make up what is very often known
as the neo-natal mortality. Although it would be wrong to say
that the death of any infant cannot be prevented, it is a known
fact that deaths up to the age of one month depend upon a variety
of circumstances, many of which are, at the moment, virtually
outwith our control. A great deal of work is being done in an
attempt to reduce neo-natal mortality. Indeed we all look forward
to the day when the neo-natal mortality rate will have dropped as
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