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9
The fatalities of the infectious diseases expressed as a rate per
thousand population compare favourably with figures for the
country as a whole. The rates for measles (0.01), scarlet fever
(0), whooping cough (0.01), diphtheria (0.04) and influenza (0.05)
were all lower than the corresponding national rates of 0.04, 0.01,
0.03, 0.07 and 0.11.
Deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis were again fewer than
those in the previous year, though there was a slight increase in
those due to non-pulmonary tuberculosis. The death rate per
100,000 population of 46.8 was well below the figure of 69.5 recorded
for the country as a whole in 1937.
The infant mortality rate of 38 3, though an increase on
the figure of 355 of the previous year, compares favourably with
the figure of 53 for England and Wales and 57 for the Great
Towns. The local figures for the years 1934 to 1936 were 47, 42 1
and 44.9.
The maternal mortality rate was 3.52 compared with local
figures for the years 1934 to 1937 of 5.99, 3.46, 4.02 and 4.07, and
a figure of 2.97 for England and Wales.
There were 212 deaths recorded from cancer, the recorded
death rate per million living being 1,155 compared with a figure
of 1,634 for England and Wales for the year 1937.
There were 25 suicidal deaths (16 male and 9 female) during
the year, giving a rate of 100,000 population per 13.6 compared
with a figure of 12.6 for the country as a whole for 1937. The
commonest method was the use of coal-gas (6 male and 4 female),
other methods including drowning (5) and hanging (3).
Of the 37 (20 male and 17 female) other deaths from violence
13 were due to road accidents, of which 8 were of pedestrians.
Falls of elderly persons accounted for 8 deaths.