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17
reference to Charts 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the appendix are worthy
of attention. The record, however, is marred by the continued
high comparative rate in the newly born dying within one week
of life.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
1946 breaks the previous sequence of three years without
a maternal death in Bromley. In 1946 there was one maternal
death giving a mortality rate of 0.82 per 1,000 births.

METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
The Air Ministry's Report on the weather records of the
country showed the year 1946 to be the wettest for two decades—
sixth successive year with sunshine deficiency—and summer
and autumn worst of the century. It was the wettest year since
1927 with more than six inches above the average; the sixth
successive year with less sunshine than the average (1,288 hours
altogether which is 178 less than the average); the worst
summer and autumn of the century because of the combination
of low temperature, frequent rain and no sun.
The records kept by the Borough Engineer at the Climatological
Station at Church House, Bromley, disclosed a total
rainfall of 29.52 inches. August, usually a dry month, had 4.83
inches. May with 3.86 inches and November with 3.36 inches.
October with 1.03 inches was the driest month. There were
167 wet days during the year. The average rainfall for the past
50 years is 25.61 so that the rainfall for 1946 was 3.91 inches above
the average