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gratifying to note that Hackney children compare favourably with
children in London generally in this respect. It will be seen that
no Hackney child admitted to school in 1934 was regarded as being
badly nourished, only 52 out of total of 3,327 examined, or 1.6 per
cent., being below normal. Only 5 children, or 0.2 per cent. were
found to be poorly clad or shod.
From the comparative table on page 13 of this Report, which
shows the birth-rates, death-rates and infant mortality-rates for
the year in the 29 Metropolitan districts, it will be seen that
Hackney has preserved its favourable position in these respects.
The birth-rate of the Borough for 1934 was 14.2 per 1,000 of
the population, as compared with 14.0 in 1933. The rate for London
in 1934 was 13.2.
The crude death-rate of the Borough for the year was 11.7, as
compared with 11.9 for London as a whole, the adjusted rates, an
explanation of which appears on page 20 of this Report, being 12.2
and 13.4 respectively.
The infant mortality-rate was 56.4 per 1,000 births, as compared
with 50.6 in 1933, the rate for London being 67.
The incidence of scarlet fever and diphtheria in England and
Wales showed an increase in J934 as compared with the previous
year and was again above normal. The number of cases of scarlet
fever which occurred in Hackney in 1934 was 909, and although
this figure gives an attack-rate above the average, it is smaller than
that for the previous year, when 1,097 cases occurred. Fortunately
the disease now prevalent is of a mild type and there were only five
deaths in 1934 among the Hackney cases as compared with six deaths
in 1933. There were, however, many cases of a grave type among
the 517 persons who were attacked with diphtheria and there were
27 deaths from this disease during the year. In the previous year
there were 385 cases of diphtheria and 19 deaths.
Attendances at the Council's Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic
have been maintained, no less than 1,012 persons presenting themselves
for Schick testing; 166 persons were found to be naturally
immune to the disease and 776 completed a full course of immunising
treatment. Particulars with regard to the Clinic, together with a
report by the Medical Officer in Charge, will be found on pages
113 and 114 of this Report.
The progress made during the year with the slum clearance and
re-housing schemes of the Borough is reported on pages 75 to 77.