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8
Comparing the Statement with that given for 1919, all our Mortality
rates are less, and in our favour, when compared with the Country as a
whole or any of the grouping of the Towns.
A larger number of our deaths has occurred in Public Institutions,
as elsewhere, compared with 1919, and though the number of inquests
was large, the number of uncertified deaths, which heretofore was nil,
now shows some increase. Obviously the cause of every death should
be investigated, if not certified by a Medical Practitioner.
Our Infant Mortality figure, there is no possible error in this, is
extremely good as compared with those for the Country or the Towns.
Our general death-rate is in marked contrast with those given, and is
most favourable. The so-called Zymotic or Infectious Diseases,
capable of control and prevention, largely influenced this.
Although during 1920 we had an increase of 351 cases of Scarlet
Fever compared with 1919, we had only one death from the disease.
From the returns of the Registrar-General our case death-rate for
Scarlet Fever was .1 per 100 attacked. Of the Districts mentioned on
page 39, East Ham only had such a favourable rate, Leyton and
Willesden had proportionately eleven times our death-rate, and
Edmonton and Tottenham thirteen times.
Our case death-rate from Diphtheria (5.2) was likewise less than any
of the other Districts, East Ham (3.7) and Croydon (4.5) excepted.
All the others were over 7 0 except Willesden which was 6.1.
Our Infectious Sickness Rate, based on the proportion of
cases notified to total population, was 8.4 per 1,000 compared with 6.4
in 1919. This is considerably greater than the average for the previous
ten years and is accounted for by our increased incidence of Scarlet
Fever. As already noted there was only one death from this disease.
In the estimating of this rate, the only diseases counted are those
usually notified prior to 1914.
Up to that date, excluding Small Pox, the diseases for which
Hospital provision was made here were Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria,
as they were assumed to be of most importance, but within recent
years Scarlet Fever, while capable of creating a public scare, has but a
neglible mortality.
Whether the large amount of public money spent on the isolation and
treatment of cases of this disease is justified, 1 cannot say, but that
some adjustment of view in regard to it is necessary I feel quite sure.
During the first four months of the year we had an average of 23
cases a month, and during the next four, 40. Up to this point every
case could be dealt with by isolation and treatment in Hospital,.but