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6
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Me. Mayoe, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Twenty-fourth Annual
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
The report is an "Ordinary" report as defined in the
appropriate circular of the Ministry of Health. Next year
the first "Survey" report will be published, in accordance
with the Ministry's programme, which lays down for a series
of five years one Survey and four Ordinary reports. Survey
reports are expected to deal with the general advancement of
public health work in the previous five years.
The chief vital statistics relating to the year are as follows:
The civilian population is estimated by the Registrar General
at 139,980, a figure which shews a decrease of 20 compared
with last year. My own estimate is 141,088. The birth rate
(18.5) is lower than last year. The marriage rate (15.7)
compares with 16.9 in 1923. The death rate (11.0) is the
second lowest in the metropolitan area and compares with
9.9 last year. The infantile mortality rate (65) compares
with 43 last year. These figures shew that although there
has been a slight set back in the vital statistics in 1924, the
general improvement continues to be maintained. These
increases in the mortality figures are in keeping with similar
increases in England and Wales.
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