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(5) The deaths from Tuberculosis are less than in any previous year,
and was less than one-half what they were 20 years ago.
(6) The deaths from Cancer are 46 more in the previous year, and
are unfortunately, higher than they have ever been. The disease is steadily
on the increase.
(7) The maternal mortality rate (the number of deaths of mothers as a
result of diseases or accidents associated with child-birth) is less than 2.2 per
1,000 births, which is very satisfactory, and compares very favourably with
other districts in London. This is partly due to the ante-natal inspection,
which is done in the Borough, and to the fact that 27 per cent. of all the births
occur in Lying-in Hospitals and other Institutions, where the mothers have
skilled attention and cleanliness is more observed than it is possible to obtain
at their own homes.
According to a report by Dr. Janet Campbell to the Ministry of Health,
the Maternal Mortality in the Borough of Stepney for the four years, 19191922,
was 2.42 per 1,000 births. This rate was the lowest, not only of any
district in London, but it was lower than in any County Borough or Administrative
County in England and Wales.
(8) The Infant Mortality rate is most satisfactory, as it is only 62
per 1,000 births, and is also the lowest on record in the Borough. The
decrease occurred in each of the districts forming the Borough, with the
exception of St. George's, where it was 1 per 1,000 greater than in the previous
year.
When I was first appointed Medical Officer of Health by the late
Limehouse District Board of Works, the infantile mortality in that district
which comprised Limehouse, Ratcliff, Shadwell and Wapping, was generally
above 200 per 1,000 births. During the two last years previous to its being
merged in the Borough Council, the infantile mortality was 216 per 1,000 in
1899, and 227 per 1,000 births in 1900, and even in the first year of the
Borough Council, the rate was 211 per 1,000 births. I was very disturbed
in my mind with regard to this high mortality among infants, and I was
ultimately able to convince the Limehouse District Board of the necessity of
appointing a Health Visitor to visit the homes of newly-born babies, and to
instruct the mothers in the proper way of feeding the babies, &c. The
members agreed, on the understanding that the Local Government Board
would pay one-half of her salary. Unfortunately, the Local Government
Board reluctantly declined to do so, as at that time the Board had no power
to pay a moiety of the salary. I was very disappointed, as she would have
been the first Municipal Health Visitor appointed in London, if not in the