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10
THE HEALTH OF THE BOROUGH.
All the statistical data for the year 1944 serve to show that the
health of Richmond has been well maintained. The standard of
nutrition, both for adults and for children, has likewise remained
surprisingly high; the people have fed less well, but apparently more
wisely.
The Birth'Rate has risen once again, even exceeding by a comfortable
margin the Death-Rate under war conditions. There has
been only one Maternal Death, whilst the Infant-Mortality Rate,
which rose abruptly from 25 in the year 1939 to 42 in the year 1940,
continues to show no further rise since that period.
As to the prevalence of sickness, the Borough has withstood yet
one more year of overcrowding and shelter-life without notable
increase in epidemic illness. In addition, during the year under
review, the specific infectious diseases have dealt kindly with our
children; for example, our solitary case of Diphtheria was a mild one
occurring in an immunised child upon return from evacuation.
On the other hand, as elsewhere, the Venereal Diseases have pursued
their alarming war-time spread, whilst the position in the case
of Tuberculosis continues to give ground for anxiety. Reference to
the latter will be found at the end of the Report.
HEALTH SERVICES.
LABORATORY WORK.
The standing arrangements with Richmond Royal Hospital
continued to operate satisfactorily during the year.