London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Orpington 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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10
Deaths.
661 deaths were recorded during 1950, giving a Death Rate
of 10.6 per 1,000 population, compared with 10.7 for previous year.
Of this figure, 354 were males and 307 females.
The following are details of the main causes of death in the Urban District :—
| Cancer | 114 |
| Heart and Circulatory Diseases | 342 |
| Respiratory Diseases (not Tuberculosis) | 66 |
| Tuberculosis | 11 |
| Infectious Diseases | 1 |
| Influenza | 5 |
| Road Accidents | 9 |
| Other Accidents | 9 |
| Suicide | 3 |
| Digestive Diseases | 5 |
| Other Causes | 96 |
It is pleasing to notice the fall in the number of deaths from
Tuberculosis from eighteen in each of the last two years to eleven
in 1950.
The only death from Infectious Diseases was due to a case
of Infantile Paralysis.
Infantile Mortality.
The Infant Mortality Rate for the year is 24.9 per 1,000 live
births. Twenty-three infants died during 1950 before reaching
their first birthday. Sixteen of these deaths occurred when the
infant was under four weeks of age.
Maternal Mortality.
There was one maternal death in the district during 1950,
giving a mortality rate of 1.1 per 1,000 (live and still) births.
Unemployment.
I am indebted to the Manager of the Local Labour Exchange
for the following information :—
" The position of unemployment throughout the year was
relatively steady.
Towards the end of the period, however, the position
worsened slightly owing to the seasonal slackness for painters
and also due to the easing of demands for other building trade
workers locally.