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8
cult to conceive that that extraordinarily low rate could be
reduced much further. Well, it has been, to a new record
of 14.9. Thirty three infants under one year of age died in
1959, 27 of them in the first month, leaving six deaths only
that could not be described as neo-natal. Only ten years ago
in 1949 for example, of the 53 infant deaths 33 were in the
first month and 20 later. This comparison of 6 with 20 shows
the success we are having in preventing and curing infectious
disease, and the comparison of 27 and 33 neo-natal deaths
the relative lack of success in dealing with that group where
congenital defects and prematurity are so prominent a
feature.
Otherwise there is not much change in the statistics
from the previous year. This unexciting statement conceals
the fact that no mother died in childbirth, and there were no
deaths from diphtheria, whooping cough, meningococcal
infection, scarlet fever, enteric, infantile diarrhoea and
measles. There was however, one death from poliomyelitis.
However, problems of our modern times that are not so
easily controlled are shown by 104 deaths from lung cancer
(1958 - 88), coronary disease 326 (1958 - 310), suicide 28
(1958 - 20). These three groups of figures show the direction
in which the future activities of the Medical Officer of
Health must lie and that there is still much for him to do.
MATTERS OF INTEREST
I will briefly indicate here a few new features of the
past year. A chiropody service has been introduced, B.C.G.
vaccination (for tuberculosis) and poliomyelitis vaccination
extended. Demand for day nursery accommodation is increasing
and so is the domestic help service, which in
addition has taken over the invalid night attendance service
from the Ilford Social Service Association. One new clinic
(Kenwood Gardens) has been opened and another (Heathcote)
will probably be functioning by the time this report is read.
Our midwives are now assisting in the training of pupils.
Health education is being actively pursued with the appointment
of an Assistant County Medical Officer who spends an
appreciable portion of his time in such activities. Further
details on all these matters will be found in the body of the
report.
Early in the year when the clinics in Valentines
Mansion moved to Kenwood Gardens the opportunity was