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VITAL STATISTICS.
The estimated population of Willesden at Midsummer, 1939, was 209,230.*
*This population has been calculated on the assumption that the average number of persons per inhabited
house at Midsummer, 1939, was the same as estimated for November, 1935. It is not improbable that the population
is too high, but it was thought desirable to make the records for the inter-censal years on the same basis as to
population. The number of persons registered for food rationing at August, 1940, was approximately 159,000. This
does not include Willesden residents who have become evacuees, or have joined the Services, and certain others,
but these are included for the purposes of this report. In all the circumstances, it is probable that the population
of Willesden is approximately 200,000.
2,738 live births were registered during 1939, giving a birth rate of 13.09 per 1,000 of the
population as against 14.57 in 1938. 78 still births were registered, giving a still birth rate of 27.70
per 1,000 total live and still births.
1,831 deaths were registered in 1939, giving a death rate of 8.75 per 1,000 of the population.
These figures compare with a total number of deaths of 1,841 and a death rate of 9.04 in 1938.
The infantile mortality rate for the year 1939 was 54.42 per 1,000 births. 149 children under
one year of age died in 1939.
CANCER.
There were 299 deaths of Willesden residents from Cancer in 1939 as compared with 332
in 1938.
The two Municipal Cancer Clinics were continued throughout the year but after September the
sessions were held in the morning instead of in the evening on account of the difficulties of the
black-out. 28 new patients attended these Clinics and the total attendances were 64.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
During the year 1939 1,936 cases of infectious disease were notified as compared with 1,867
in the previous year.
The following table gives the number of notifications of certain diseases included in the above
total of 1,936 together with the corresponding figures for 1938 :—

The most striking phenomenon during the year was the dramatic fall in Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria which occurred in the autumn with the outbreak of war and which has continued up to
the time of writing. During the last 17 weeks of the year 22 cases of Scarlet Fever and 32 cases of
Diphtheria were notified as against 223 cases of Scarlet Fever and 299 of Diphtheria in the previous
35 weeks. For four consecutive weeks in September not a single case of Scarlet Fever was notified,
an event unique in my knowledge of Willesden. This is remarkable since at least half the school
children and the majority of children under 5 years of age remained in Willesden. Not only Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria but all infectious disease was notably low during the last four months of 1939.
Enteric Fever.—Three cases were notified as Typhoid or Para-typhoid Fever during 1939.
All 3 cases were removed to hospital. One was removed to the Willesden Municipal Hospital
where it was diagnosed as Para-typhoid Fever B and recovered, 1 was removed to the London
Hospital and recovered, 1 was removed to St. Andrew's Hospital and was still there at the end
of the year. No deaths from Typhoid or Para-typhoid Fever were recorded during the year.
Infectious Diseases of the Central Nervous System.—Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis,
Cerebro-Spinal Fever and Encephalitis Lethargica.—18 of these diseases
were notified in 1939 as against 24 in 1938. Four of these notified cases proved fatal, giving a fatality
rate of 22 per cent. of notified cases. All 4 deaths were certified as due to Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
One occurred in a non-Willesden resident and was therefore not allocated to Willesden. In addition
there were 4 further deaths from these diseases in Willesden residents.
Whooping Cough was already a notifiable disease in Willesden before the Measles and
Whooping Cough Regulations, 1939, came into force. 672 cases were notified during the year but
a total of 1,293 cases coming to their knowledge were visited by the Health Visitors. There were
5 deaths from Whooping Cough, all in children under one year of age.
Measles became notifiable in Willesden on 23rd October, 1939, under the Measles and
Whooping Cough Regulations, 1939. Four cases were notified between 23rd October and the end of
the year but 80 cases were visited during the year by the Health Visitors. There were no deaths
from Measles.