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fronting on to Larcom Street. This new building will be known as the
"Health Services Department," and will house the Health Staff,
Tuberculosis Department, Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, Borough
Analyst's Department and several new services.
From the above few remarks it must be quite evident to anyone that
the Staff of the Health Department is working at very high pressure,
and at times find it somewhat trying.
Had it not been for the ready advice and assistance received from
the Chief Officers of the Council and the loyalty of my staff my task
would have been impossible.
I would here like to place on record my appreciation of the support
received from the chairmen and members of the committees on which I
serve.
From the health point of view the year under review may be
regarded as a good one.
Whilst the birth rate still remains at the minimum, the death rate
is the lowest on the records of the Borough.
Out of the total of 1937 deaths, 914 occurred in persons over 65
years of age.
The principal cause of death was heart disease which accounted for
518 deaths. Following this was cancer with 284 deaths, pneumonia 150,
and tuberculosis 146 deaths.
The Infant Mortality Rate of 66, whilst not the lowest on record,
indicates an improvement and shows that our efforts in the Maternity
and Child Welfare services are being rewarded. The absence of measles
plays an important part in this rate.
The total infant deaths was 152. The principal cause of death
in infants still remains—congenital malformations, debility and
prematurity. These conditions, which caused 54 infant deaths, have
never been lowered by any method yet practised in a Maternity and
Child Welfare scheme. There is no doubt that fatalities of this nature
will always occur, but in my view many can be prevented when public
opinion is such as will demand it. The other chief causes of infant
mortality in this Borough are pneumonia and bronchitis which accounted
for 44 deaths, and whooping cough which caused 15 deaths. These
conditions are due to infections and environmental causes.