View report page

per 1,000 live births, compared with 19.80 last year. The rate for
England and Wales is 22.0, the lowest ever recorded.
Of the infant deaths 32 were under four weeks old, representing a
neo-natal mortality rate of 17.67 per 1,000 live births. Last year,
there were 21 neo-natal deaths and the rate was 11.55 per 1,000 live
births. The neo-natal mortality rate for England and Wales is 15.8.
The "peri-natal" mortality rate of infants (viz., stillbirths plus
deaths occurring in the first week of life) was 35.17, as compared with
29.68 last year.
The Tables on page 55 show deaths from stated causes at various
ages under one year, together with comparative figures over the last
five years.
Maternal Mortality.
There were no maternal deaths during the year.
Accidental Deaths.
The number of deaths due to accidents was 32, the same as last year.
These included 8 due to motor vehicles (two less than in the previous
year), 14 in the home, 1 at work, 4 from drowning and 5 due to various
other causes. (See Table on page 54 relating to Road Accidents).
It is interesting to note that 50 years ago 13 residents of the
Borough died as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
Accidents in the Home.
Many more deaths now occur from accidents in the home than from
road accidents, and the public cannot be urged too strongly to see that
all possible precautions are taken in the home in order to minimise them.
No fewer than 7,000 persons throughout the country died in 1958 from
home accidents - compared with 5,439 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents
and 3,999 from lung tuberculosis. The powers and duties of the
Council under Section 82 of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1957, relating to the dissemination of information and advice for
promoting safety in the home and encouraging proper precautions against
accidents, are exercisable by the Public Health Committee and the means
taken to educate the public in this respect are referred to elsewhere in
this Report.
The County Medical Officer of Health supplies me with information
which he obtains from the London Ambulance Service relating to the
admission to hospital of home accident cases occurring in London and in
the London County Council Health Division No.5, of which Stepney forms
a part. A Table summarising these figures over the past four years is
given on page 56. Whilst the figures may not be fully comprehensive
they give a reasonably accurate picture.
9