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6
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Me. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Twenty-second Annual
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
In accordance with the instructions of the Council, the
Report follows the outline indicated by the Ministry of Health
in order to ensure uniformity in the presentation of Annual
Reports of Medical Officers of Health throughout the Country.
The chief vital statistics relating to the year are as follows.
The population has increased somewhat compared with last
year, being now estimated by the Registrar General as 138,254
(civil) and 142,350, including non-civilians. The birth rate,
21.3, is lower than last year. The marriage rate, 16.5, shews
a decrease compared with previous years. The death rate,
11.6, and the infantile mortality rate, 62, compare with 11.7
and 62 in 1921.
At the beginning of the year, the 1921 Census figures
were published and a considerable amount of space has been
set apart in the Report in discussing them because they are
of much importance and value in public health work. Briefly,
they shew in Woolwich a large increase in the population,
and a lower standard of housing judged by the amount of
house room available for each family. This lower standard
is due to the fact that the number of houses erected during the