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one knows as we do know, that the neo-natal mortality, i.e.
the number of children dying within four weeks of birth made
up the vast majority of infant deaths in Wood Green;and when one
remembers that these tragedies were mostly due to such conditions
as prematurity and congenital abnormalities,conditions which are
not easily preventable, the fall in the infant mortality rate is
all the more pleasing.
Altogether as I have said, the vital statistics for 1954
indicate a placid year with no major occurrences. When one takes
the long view, and considers every aspect relating to health,
this can, I think, be regarded as satisfactory
I need scarcely repeat that the personal health services
operated in the Borough are under the control of the Middfesex
County Council, It will be remembered that last year I included
a report submitted to Area Health Committee No.2, as an appendix
to my Annual Report. It is doubtful whether my statement to the
Area Committee as it relates to 1954 will be ready by the time
this Annual Report goes to press. I therefore intend to ask the
County Council's permission to circulate my Area report to all
members of the Council as soon as it is ready. I feel very
strongly that the Borough Council should know what is happening
within the Borough, not only the steps which the public Health
Committee is taking to safeguard health, but the comparable action
pursued by the County Council.In no other way can these separate
but closely parallel activities be properly integrated, if and
when Wood Green becomes an Area,it will, of course.be much easier
to paint a composite picture. Until then, the steps which I have
outlined above will, I hope, enable the Borough Council to
appreciate more fully the various measures being taken within
the Borough to improve and safeguard the health, not only of the
individual but of the community.
It has been my custom for several years to include, as an
appendix to my Annual Report, a brief statement on health
education. This year,I should like to incorporate this statement
in the introductory section of the Report, since it is becoming
more and more obvious that health education is playing an essential
part in preventative medicine and that it deserves first-class
priority.
The significance of health education in the vast field of
public health is now accepted. It has been stated that we are
still only in the experimental phase of health education. We
certainly have much to learn, both as to method and content. Be
that as it may, we would do well to study and review from time
to timethepart which health education can play, the contribution
it has to offer, and the uses to which it can be put.
I should now like to return to a subject which I have ventilated
on several occasions, but which cannot be stressed too
often or too strongly. Preventative medicine is and always will
appear unspectacular to the general public, unless in those isolated
instances where the discovery of a new vaccine or the introduction
of important legislation are focused in the national
press.The day-to-day measures designed to erect a barrier against
the spread of infection and to encourage positive health, are
still taken for granted by too many people. This, of course, is
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