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infant mortality rate, i.e., the deaths of infants under one year of
age, rose from 21.4 to 28.3, although it must be remembered that
the number of infants dying under the age of 12 months is so small
that a few deaths raise the rate out of all proportion. Thus, the
number of Wood Green infants under one year who died during
1953 was only 17; the number during 1952 was 14. That is always
the difficulty in dealing with such small totals over a limited period.
The picture is apt to be distorted, while it should again be stressed
that it is virtually impossible to draw any worthwhile conclusions
from such small numbers over a period of one year.
One death occurred during the year from puerperal causes.
In this connection it may be stated that 3,303 births have taken
place in Wood Green over the past five years, with only three
deaths. This is very different from the sombre picture which could
have been painted before the war. The reasons behind this very
satisfactory state of affairs are varied. They include recent advances
in midwifery, a much fuller and more careful supervision of women
before, during and after child-birth, together with the extraordinary
advances in the use of antibiotics which have come about within
recent years. It would indeed be difficult to place these three factors
in order of priority. It is at least obvious that all have played their
part.
Apart from the number of measles cases which occurred during
1953, the district was free from epidemics or even serious outbreaks
of infectious disease. The number of measles cases recorded was
high (778), with a comparable rise in the number of pertussis
(whooping cough) cases (202). This was in keeping with the figures
from England and Wales as a whole, 1953 being a heavy year so
far as measles was concerned. The number of dysentery cases
reported also rose, from 12 to 51. This again was part of a nationwide
pattern, which will be receiving more detailed comment later
in the Report.
Apart from the number of cases of infectious disease reported,
it is, I think, important in some ways, more important to consider
severity. This was extremely low, the number of cases of infectious
disease, including tuberculosis, admitted during the year to hospital
or sanatorium being no more than 102. The total number of deaths
was 39, of which 32 were caused by pneumonia, mostly among the
oldest age groups in our population. The number of complications
and sequelae reported have also been extremely light. This again
will receive comment in the section of the Report which deals
specifically with infectious diseases.
I would conclude this introduction by once again expressing
my grateful thanks to the Borough Council and to the Public
Health Committee for the constant encouragement which I have
received at their hands. This has been extremely gratifying and has
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