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To the MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COUNCILLORS.
Madam, Ladies and Gentlemen.
The report of the Health Department for 1944 is again an interim statement
recording only the basic facts of the work done under the direction of
the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. E. H. R. Smithard, who in February, 1945,
was released at the request of the Ministry of Health to join the Civil Affairs
Branch of the Army for work in occupied territories.
The vital statistics record a slight fall in the number of births classified
as belonging to the borough, the number being 663 in 1944 and 671 in 1943.
At the same time a fall in the population was estimated by the Registrar
General—35,390 in 1944, and 35,460 in 1943. The birth rate was slightly
reduced, being 18.73 in 1944 as against 18.92 in 1943. The infant mortality
rate was 36, 10 less than in the preceding year and the second lowest figure
on record ; the previous low record was 31 in 1939. The rate was therefore
25 per thousand live births less than that for London as a whole and 10 per
thousand less than that for England and Wales. Of the 663 allocated live
births 49 were illegitimate, a rate of 88.99 per thousand births registered,
whereas the rate in 1943 was 49.18. This increase is probably due to war
conditions but the fact that there were no deaths in this group is encouraging.
The number of deaths of infants registered was 24, the lowest on record,
6 of these deaths were due to gastro-enteritis and 5 to pneumonia.
There is an encouraging fall in the number of deaths of premature infants,
three being registered, ten less than in 1943. These infants died before they
were one month old. The general death rate rose to 16.50 in 1944 as compared
with 15.68 in 1943. The deaths from violent causes, including enemy action,
were 51 as against 14 in 1943.
With regard to infectious disease it is pleasing to note that no deaths
occurred from diphtheria, scarlet fever or measles. There were two deaths
of infants from whooping cough, illustrating the seriousness of this disease
in infancy. Influenza accounted for two deaths in adults. The most
prevalent infectious disease in the year was whooping cough, 207 cases being
notified, the number in 1943 being 116. Scarlet fever was less prevalent,
91 cases being notified in 1944 and 194 in 1943. There were fewer cases of
diphtheria, the number notified being 30 in 1944, as compared with 62 in 1943.
The notification of pulmonary tuberculosis decreased from 96 to 83.
The scheme for tubercidosis allowances continued to be applied during
the year and the numbers of allowances made, etc., are given in the table
on page 6. In November the scheme for mass radiography sponsored by the
Ministry of Health was commenced. The work was carried out by the
London County Council, the unit being located in Hackney. The number
of persons who attended for examination in 1944 was 1,183. The survey had
not been completed by the end of the year and a more detailed report on
the results can be given in the next annual report.