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6
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mb. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Twenty-third Annual
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
As in previous years, and in accordance with the instructions
of the Council, the report follows the outline indicated
by the Ministry of Health, in order to secure uniformity in
the presentation of Annual Reports of Medical Officers of
Health throughout the Countiy.
The chief Vital Statistics relating to the year are as
follows. The population has increased compared with last
year, being now estimated by the Registrar General to be
140,000. The birth rate, 20'5, is lower than last year. The
marriage rate, 169, compares with 165 in 1922. The death
rate, 9'9, is the lowest in the metropolitan area and the in.
fantile mortality rate, 43, is the second lowest in the Metropolitan
Boroughs, and both these rates are the lowest in the
records of the Borough.
Excluding cases of measles and tuberculosis, 876 notifications
of infectious disease were received during the year,
compared with 1,427 in the previous year. 194 cases of
measles came to the knowledge of the Department through
information given mainly by school teachers. In 1922 the