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The number of "still-births" during 1921 was 6,
the bodies all being sent to Alperton burial ground.
DEATH RATE.
There were 138 deaths registered as belonging to
the district, giving the quite satisfactory death-rate
of 8.28.
The death rate for England and Wales for 1921
was 12.1.
Among the chief causes of death were:—
Malignant Disease (Cancer) 17
Heart Disease 9
Tuberculosis (Pulmonary) 11
Pneumonia 12
Cerebral Haemorrhage, &c.
Tables of the Vital Statistics will be found at the
end of the Report. With reference to the chief causes
of death, we ought not to be satisfied with the mere
statement that so many died of cancer or malignancy.
This dire complaint is acknowledged to be on the
increase, and even more active measures should be taken
to arrest if possible the incidence of the disease. A
Special Commission should be held—international if
possible—to co-ordinate the good work already done and
to demand from every practitioner full details of all
cases attended. The best brains of the country should
be sought to formulate schemes to arrive at the knowledge
of definite causes and to find a remedy. Until sufficient
funds are forthcoming every Public Health Office in the
kingdom should have a collecting box in conspicuous
places and labelled "For cancer research." No money
could be ill-spent to fight so grave a menace to the
public health.
During the year 1921 no case of death occurred in
consequence of childbirth, yet throughout the country
a certain perentage of these preventable deaths still is
found.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
Fourteen children died under twelve months old in
1921, giving an infantile mortality of 45 per 1,000 births,
which is below the past six years average of 51, but
not so low as in 1920, when it was 40. Of the 14
children, 2 were illegitimate.
The infantile mortality for England and Wales for
1921 was 83, so that 45 may be considered satisfactory,
but is not so low as we hope to reach when the ante-natal
work is more firmly established and expectant mothers