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Public Health Department,
High Street,
Mortlake, S.W.I4.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Barnes.
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year
1937, on the sanitary circumstances, the sanitary administration, and
the vital statistics of the Borough.
In accordance with the requirements of the Minister of Health
the Annual Report for 1937 has been compiled as an Ordinary Report.
The Report contains detailed information specifically directed by the
Minister of Health and a record of alterations, improvements or
developments which have taken place during the year.
The vital statistics of the Borough show the various mortality
rates for the year under review to be satisfactory, and they compare
favourably with the statistics of similar areas, and of England and
Wales as a whole. The extremely low mortality from infectious
diseases, from diseases and accidents of childbirth, and amongst
children under one year of age during 1937 is especially worthy of
mention. Not a single death occurred from the acute infectious
diseases—diphtheria, enteric fever, scarlet fever, measles, whooping
cough or epidemic diarrhoea. The rate of maternal mortality was
nil; 1937 was the third year in succession in which there has been
no death from maternal causes, and, further, during the first eight
months of the present year no death from this cause has occurred.
The infantile mortality rate for 1937 is the lowest ever recorded for
the district, being only 35.6 compared with a rate of 58 per 1,000
registered births for England and Wales.
I regret the preparation of this Report has been delayed ; the
delay has been occasioned by additional work in connection with the
organisation of new services, and extension of existing ones, in
accordance with recent legislation.
In presenting this report I take the opportunity of expressing
my appreciation of the support which I have received from the Council,
and of thanking the staff of the Public Health Department for their
assistance.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
E. A. FREEAR WILKES,
August, 1938. Medical Officer of Health.