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for England and Wales which was 11.9. The number of deaths from all causes is shown in Table 1. The main
causes of death and rates per thousand population are shown in Table 2. Diseases of the circulatory system
(active rheumatic fever, heart disease, hypertensive disease, cerebrovascular disease, etc.) continue to be the
leading cause of death with a rate of 2.4, and respiratory diseases (influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis and
emphysema, asthma, etc.) with a rate of 1.4.
Infectious Diseases
Five men died from tuberculosis of the respiratory system. There were no deaths among women.
This is a great improvement compared with last year when nine men and two women died from the disease
(see page 14). There were no deaths from any other notifiable disease.
Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus
Once again cancer of the lung and bronchus continues to be the commonest cause of fatal malignant
disease. 158 men and 44 women died compared with 148 men and 31 women in 1968. The Department
of Health and Social Security, with the assistance of the Health Education Council Ltd., continued its campaign
on smoking and health. The Department co-operated by distributing a considerable amount of literature
to school, youth clubs and other organisations, and 11 talks were given in schools to 614 pupils.
Bronchitis and Emphysema
116 men and 49 women died from bronchitis and emphysema compared with 118 men and 42
women in 1968. The sex difference in numbers of deaths is probably related to the heavier smoking habits
of middle-aged and elderly men and to a lesser extent conditions of dust, smoke and fumes at work.
Abortion and Other Complications of Pregnancy
There were four maternal deaths giving a rate of 0.72 per 1,000 (live and still) births, compared
with two deaths and a rate of 0.34 in 1968. The provisional rate for England and Wales was 0.19 per 1,000
live and stillbirths.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Thirty-eight residents died as a result of accidents involving motor vehicles (26 males, 12 females).
All other Accidents
Twenty males and 16 females died as a result of other accidents, the commonest causes being falls
at home and at work, carbon monoxide poisoning, burns and asphyxia due to fires, and drowning.
Suicides
Eighteen men and 18 women committed suicide (see page 17).
INFANT MORTALITY
In 1969, 105 children died in the first year of life—58 in the first week and another 13 in the first
month. There was a slight decrease in the infant mortality rate compared with 1968, from 23.4 per 1,000 live
births to 19.1, which was above the provisional figure for England and Wales (18.0). The perinatal mortality
rate (stillbirths and deaths under one week combined per 1,000 live and stillbirths) decreased from 29.5 to 24.3,
above the provisional figure for England and Wales which was 23.0.
Causes of Death (Table 3)
The main cause of infant mortality was birth injury, difficult labour and other anoxic and hypoxic
conditions. Twenty-seven babies died in the first week of life and one in the second.
Twenty babies died of other causes of perinatal mortality. Nineteen of these deaths were due to
prematurity.
Influenza, pneumonia, and other diseases of the respiratory system caused eighteen deaths. Antibiotics
and improved environmental conditions have decreased the number of deaths from these causes considerably
over the past few years.
Last year, I said "it is pleasing to report that there were only two deaths from enteritis and
diarrhoeal diseases compared with six in 1967". This improvement continued; there was only one death in
1969. There is no doubt that the work done by the health visitors educating mothers, particularly immigrant
mothers many of whose standards of infant care and feeding leave a great deal to be desired, has contributed to
this low death rate.
There were 24 deaths from congenital anomalies, one due to a motor accident, one from carbon
monoxide poisoning (fire fumes) and one cot death, a child of one day.
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Improved conditions of housing and general standard of living, together with modern medicine and
vaccines have played an important part towards better health and reduction in number of notifiable diseases
in the Borough. Health Visitors and Public Health Inspectors have played an invaluable role in health education
and in improving hygiene, and where a disease has been notified prompt action and advice has no doubt
prevented it from becoming widespread.
A summary of notified and confirmed cases for 1968 and 1969 is shown in Table 4.
Diphtheria
There were no cases in the Borough during 1969.