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7
As in previous years the birth-rates of the various Wards differ—
Hoe Street has a rate of 13.3; Hale End, 15.6; St. James' Street,
16.6; High Street, 17.5; Higham Hill, 17.9; and Wood Street,
18.0. Compared with 1924, St. James' Street shows a decrease of
2 per 1,000, Hoe Street 1, Wood Street and Higham Hill an increase
of nearly 2, and High Street and Hale End have practically the
same rates.
Our Death-rate, was 10.0 per 1,000 of the population, compared
with 12.2 for England and Wales and the "Great Towns," 11.2
for the "157 Smaller Towns," and 11.7 for London.
It is slightly less than in 1924 and 0.5 and 1.0 greater than 1921
and 1923.
The total recorded deaths were 31 less than in 1924. Tuberculosis,
Cancer and Heart Disease had practically the same mortality in
both years; diseases of the respiratory system and Influenza were
less. From these five "causes of death" more than half our people
succumbed.
Deaths in the new-born from Congenital Debility and Prematurity
were numerically greater than in 1924. This might be expected
as our births were 60 more than in the previous year.
Taking the age periods, fewer persons died within the age groups
25-65 than in 1924, and a larger number in the group 65 and upwards.
The only Cause of Death in a very large number in the
later period was given as Senile Decay.
A more definite reason might be given for those under 70 years
and the careless way many deaths are certified makes classification
a difficult matter with the result that however closely one follows
the Rules laid down by the Registrar General slight variations occur
between the numbers given by him and me.
The Zymotic Death-rate, or that resulting from deaths caused
by Diphtheria, Erysipelas, Scarlatina, Typhoid Fever, Diarrhoea,
Measles and Whooping Cough, was .34, or nearly double that of
the previous year. The rate is given for comparative purposes,
but is of little value as an index to the good or bad administration
of an Area.
All the diseases are theoretically preventable, but so far no
Authority has had much success in preventing epidemics of Measles
and Whooping Cough.
Measles in in epidemic form was present during the first half of
1924, followed by Whooping Cough which continued right up to
the middle of 1925 and was the cause of 26 deaths—25 of them in
children under 5 years of age.