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5
Our Death-rate was 9.7 per 1,000 compared with 12.4 for the
Country as a whole and London; 12.5 for the Great Towns; and 11.3
for the 148 Smaller Towns. It is slightly less than that of 1919, which
was one of the lowest on record. The total recorded deaths for the
year were 20 more than in 1919. Fifteen of these were due to
Congenital Debility and premature births, and the variations in number
due to other causes of death, call for no comment. As usual, Heart
Disease, Cancer, and Diseases of the Lungs account for nearly half the
total deaths, but there is a noticeable change in the age period of the
mortality from the first two diseases. Fewer have died in the age
group 25 to 65, showing that degenerative changes leading to death
have been somewhat postponed and a larger span of mid-life usefulness
was enjoyed by our people.
The Zymotic Death-rate, or that resulting from deaths
caused by Diphtheria, Erysipelas, Scarlatina, Typhoid Fever and
Diarrhoea, Measles, and Whooping Cough, was .45 compared with .59
in 1919, .80 in 1918; 1.58 in 1911 and 2.82 in 1901.
Deaths from all these diseases are theoretically preventable, but little
credit can be taken for the low combined rate recorded, which is
mainly due this year to absence of Measles in an epidemic form.
There was only one death from Typhoid and one from Scarlet Fever.
The death-rate of both is neglible, that of the latter was one-sixth that
of England and Wales and the Great Towns.
Our mortality from Diphtheria in 1920 was less than in 1919; less
than that for the Country as a whole; a little more than half that of
London, and similar to that prevailing in the 148 Smaller Towns.
Compared with our neighbours we had five deaths per 100 attacked,
against Leyton's 7 7, and Tottenham's 7'2.
Our Infantile Mortality Rate was the lowest on record. It
was 20 less per 1,000 than that of England and Wales and the 148
Smaller Towns, and 25 less than that of the 96 Great Towns.
The marked diminution in this rate, which has been steadily
declining during recent years, is a matter for congratulation to the
Council and an encouragement to the Child Welfare Workers.
It is now an accepted doctrine that a small Infantile Mortality rate
connotes healthy babyhood, which is the forerunner of a virile race.
On page 21 will be seen that of the Districts around London,
Hornsey and Ilford only show a smaller Infantile Mortality rate than
here.
The low birth-rates of these Districts and the better economic
conditions enjoyed by their peoples compared with ours, account
largely for this.