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I have compared in the foregoing table the principal causes
of death among children of school age (i.e., from 5 to 15 years) in
England & Wales with those in Ilford for 1928 and 1927.
I cannot say that an analysis of this table is favourable as
far as the school population of Ilford is concerned.
It shows: —
1st.—That rather more deaths of children of school age,
compared with the total deaths, occurred in Ilford during 1928
and 1927 than in the country generally. This is partly, but
not, I think, altogether, explained by the large child population
in Ilford.
2nd.—That Tuberculosis is a greater factor in causing
deaths among school children in Ilford than it is in the
country generally, although for all ages the proportion is
much the same. This is an added argument for the establishment
of the Open-Air School for weakly children, who are
likely to develop such a disease.
3rd.—Violence is a much smaller factor as a cause of the
deaths of children in Ilford than in the country generally.
4th.—In 1928 and 1927 Ilford was in a favourable position
as far as the deaths from Diphtheria in school children is
concerned, compared with the country as a whole. It is
possible that with the outbreaks of diphtheria which have
occurred on the L.C.C. Estate at Becontree, this position may
be reversed in 1929.
5th.-—Bronchitis and Pneumonia were not factors in
causing deaths among Ilford school children in 1928. In 1927,
however, the percentage rate approximated to that in England
and Wales.
On the other hand, Ilford was in an unfavourable position
as regards measles, whooping cough and heart disease in 1928
compared with the country generally. One factor causing this
is no doubt the lack of hospital accommodation for measles and
whooping cough, and the absence of any Rheumatic Clinic or