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7
The memorandum on the subject issued by the Ministry
of Health states that there is no evidence that Cancer is
infectious or contagious in the ordinary sense, nor that there
are specially infected areas, nor that there is really any
hereditary tendency. We must just wait for more evidence,
collecting all the information we can, and assist the British
Cancer Campaign by gifts of money to further a cause so vital
to the health of the whole nation.
I would remind you that only a very small sum has been
placed in the bank as a result of the subscriptions to the
collecting box for Cancer still in the Public Health Department.
Arterio-sclerosis, usually a senile change, implies a hard
life, and means hardening of the blood vessels. It is recognised
much more frequently in death certificates now than formerly
as a cause of death. It is often said that we are as old as our
arteries, and so it behoves us to live more quietly, free from
excess of work or indulgence, especially after fifty years
of age.
INFANTILE MORTALITY,
There were II deaths recorded in 1923 of children under
twelve months—5 males and 6 females. One male was illegitimate.
The infantile mortality was 38 per 1000 births (it
was 527 in 1921,52 in 1920, and 60.6 in 1922). For England
and Wales it was 69.
This rate of 38 is therefore quite satisfactory if we could
keep about this figure annually. At the end of this Report
you will find an interesting chart of this mortality drawn up
by one of my staff.
NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
There were 134 cases of infectious disease notified in
Harrow during 1923. Of these:—
46 were Chicken-pox.
34 Tuberculosis
(31 pulmonary).
20 Scarlet Fever.
13 Measles.
6 Diphtheria.
1 Small-pox.
6 Erysipelas.
3 Pneumonia.
1 Puerperal Septicaemia.
1 Encephalitis Lethargica.
1 Typhoid.
2 Anterior Poliomyelitis.