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satisfactory, it is at least pleasing to think that the conditions
which prevail within the Borough are such as to promote health
and longevity. Unfortunately, we know only too well that a
portion of these deaths occur in persons who have only reached
late middle life. None the less, the over-all fact remains that,
in the absence of any factor which might increase the prevalence
of cancer - and no such factor seems to exist - we must assume
that the high rates in Wood Green are due to the long life of its
citizens.
INQUESTS
Seventeen inquests were held following the deaths of Wood
Green residents during 1957. A further 128 post mortem examinations
were carried out without an inquest, 61 of these in the
Prince of Wales Hospital, which, by arrangement with the Wood Green
Borough Council, provides mortuary services.
MATERNAL MORTALITY
As in the four previous years no deaths were reported as the
result of childbirth,
INFANT MORTALITY
As already indicated, the infant mortality rate fell from
17.3 in 1956 to 16.8 in 1957. These figures are perhaps seen in
more accurate perspective when it is remembered that the number
of infants who died during their first year in 1956 was 10, while
the corresponding number in 1957 showed an increase of one, the
number for that year being 11. In other words, as has been
explained, a few infant deaths will raise or lower appreciably
the infantile mortality rate for a district with a population
such as Wood Green's, bearing in mind that these figures are
linked to the number of live births. It will be noted that the
number of infant deaths rose from 10 in 1956 to 11 in 1957,
although the infant mortality rate fell from 17.3 to 16.8 during
the same period. This fall in the infant mortality rate was
brought about by the fact that a greater number of births occurred
in the Borough during 1957 than in 1956,
We also know that all of our infant deaths occurred during
the first few weeks of life, indeed, during the first few days of
life. In fact, 8 deaths occurred within twenty-four hours of
birth. This mortality, known as the neo-natal mortality comprises
the type of fatalities which, so far as the work of the local
health authority is concerned, are largely non-preventable, Each
infant death is, however, very carefully investigated, whether
the child dies at home or, as happens in most instances, in
hospital. The Council will remember that, in my Annual Report
for 1956, I mentioned that we were endeavouring to arrange a
post-mortem examination of infants who died before the age of
twelve months in as many cases as possible. This is never an
easy matter, for very obvious reasons. We are nevertheless
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