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10
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
The Annual Report herewith, presented is the Thirteenth
it has been my duty to make on the Health of the Borough
and the Twenty-second on the Health of Plumstead.
It contains full particulars of the population, numbers bom
and dying, and numbers affected with certain diseases supposed
to be more easily preventable, together with some account of the
efforts made to diminish the number of the dying. Tuberculosis
and Cancer—two specially fatal affections—have received particular
attention, and I would ask your consideration of the special
enquiry into the causes of Cancer, which points to the injurious
effects of excessive smoking.
1912 had the lowest recorded infantile mortality, but last year
had the lowest childhood mortality, i.e., death-rate of children
between the ages of one and five. The continued increase of
vitality of those commencing life is a matter for congratulation.