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persons concerned a special safety-type gas cooker. Attention is also
given in the homes of old people to oil heaters, particularly the dripfeed
type; advice and assistance is given to enable the old people to
have these converted so as to conform with safety standards.
Marriages
The number of marriages in the Borough during the year was 780,
being 16 more than last year. The marriage rate per 1,000 population
is 17.3 compared with 16.9 in 1962.
Deaths
The net number of deaths registered during the year was 1,218,
compared with 1,133 last year. The death rate of 13.54 is the highest
since 1952. The rate of 13.54 when adjusted by the comparability
factor is 15.4, as compared with 12.2 for England and Wales. The
principal causes of death were heart disease which accounted for 28 per
cent of the total deaths; cancer 20 per cent, and diseases of the respiratory
system 22 per cent. Deaths of persons over the age of 65 years
amounted to 64 per cent of the total deaths.
Details of deaths by cause and age are given in Table I of the
appendix, on pages 60 and 6l.
Infant Mortality
Deaths of infants under one year numbered 4-5, giving a rate of
24.77 per 1,000 live births. The rate for England and Wales is 20.9.
The Tables on page 62 show the deaths from stated causes at various
ages under one year, together with comparative figures over the last
five years.
Perinatal Mortality
The perinatal mortality rate of infants (viz., still-births plus
deaths occurring in the first week of life) was 32.36, compared with
30.72 last year.
Neonatal Mortality
During the year there were 27 deaths of infants under four weeks of
age, representing a neonatal mortality rate of 14.86. Last year, there
were 24 neonatal deaths the rate being 12.96.
Maternal Mortality
There was one maternal death this year.
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