[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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The monthly recordings are as shown below:—

RAINFALL, 1939.
	JOSEPH HOOD RECREATION GROUND.	WEST BARNES PUMPING STATION.

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SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS FOR 1939. (Registrar General's Figures).

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TABLE I. COMPARATIVE STATISTICS, 1939. (R.G.'s Provisional Figures with Corresponding Figures for Merton and Morden added).

	England and Wales	126 County Boro's and Great Towns including London	148 Smaller Towns (Resident Populations 25,000 to 50,000 at 1931 Census	London Administrative County	Merton and Morden

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The estimated population of the wards is as follows:—

Wards	Houses at mid. 1939	Estimated Population mid. 1989

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BIRTHS, 1939—DISTRIBUTION BY WARDS.

Wards	Live Births	Still Births	Total Births	Birth Rate

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The numbers in respect of the various wards were as shown in the following table:—

Wards	Total Births (Live and Still)	Births in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, etc	Percentage of Total Births which occurred in Hospitals, etc.

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TABLE II. Showing Births and Deaths with Rates since the Amalgamation of Merton with Morden.

Year.	Estimated population.	Total Births.	Birth Rate.	Total Deaths.	Death Rate.

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TABLE III. Ward Death Rates and Mean Age at Death.

Wards	Deaths	Death Rate (crude)	Mean age at death

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Deaths in Institutions. Half the total deaths registered occurred in hospitals and institutions. Two hundred and fifty-seven, representing 50 % of the whole, took place in the following premises:—

Institutions.	Deaths.

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The cancer death rates for the last 12 years are given below. They show no definite trend but were it not for the fact that during this period the district has grown rapidly, chiefly by migration into it of young persons who have not yet reached the cancer age, the figures would probably have been less favourable :—

Y ear.	Death Rate per 1,000 population.	Year.	Death Rate per 1,000 population.

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TABLE IV. Deaths from Respiratory Diseases, 1925-39.

Year	Bronchitis	Pneumonia	Other Respiratory Diseases	Total	Death Rate

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TABLE V. Causes of Death during the Year 1939.

No.	Cause of Death	Males	Females	Total

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TABLE VI. MATERNAL MORTALITY, 1924-39.

Year	Death rate per thousand t.otal births
	Sepsis	Other causes	Total

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The infant mortality rates since 1921 are as follows:—

Deaths per 1,000 live		Deaths per 1,000 live
Year.	births.	Year.	births.

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There are slightly higher than if calculated on the registered births which totalled 1,005.

Wards	Live Births	Infant Deaths	Deaths per 1,000 live births

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TABLE VII.—INFANT MORTALITY DURING THE YEAR 1939 Deaths classified as to cause and age at death.

Cause of Death.	Under 1 week.	1—2 weeks.	2—3 weeks.	3—4 weeks.	Total under 4 weeks.	4 weeks and under 3 months	3 months and under 6 months	6 months and under 9 months	9 months and under 12 months	Total deaths under 1 year

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The figures relating to cases and visits in Merton and Morden during 1939 are as follows:—

	Cases.	Visits.

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The following examinations were made during the year:—

Examination.	No. performed.	Positive result.

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The following is a summary of the working of the service in 1939:— AMBULANCE CALLS, 1939.

1939	Calls received from Public	Calls received from neighbouring Brigades	Total Calls Received	Calls transferred to other Authorities	Call6 answered by Own Ambulance

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CLINICS AND TREATMENT CENTRES. 1.—Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics (provided by the Council).

Centre	Clinic	Times of Clinic

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2.—Diphtheria Immunisation Clinics (provided by the Council).

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3.—School Clinics (provided by Surrey Education Committee).

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4.—Tuberculosis Dispensaries (provided by Surrey County Council).

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These are arranged as follows:—

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TABLE VIII. CASES ADMITTED TO THE WANDLE VALLEY ISOLATION HOSPITAL DURING THE YEAR 1939.

Disease	Beddington and Waliington		Coulsdon and Purley		Merton and Morden		Mitcham
Disease	Oases	Deaths	Cases	Deaths	Cases	Deaths	Cases	Deaths

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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE. Public Health Act, 1936, Section 203—Notification of Births.—The births notified under Section 203 as adjusted by transferred notifications were:—

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TABLE IX. Attendances at Maternity Clincs, 1939.

Centre	No. on Register	Attendances		Sessions	Average attendances per session
Centre	No. on Register	Primary	Total	Sessions	Average attendances per session

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TABLE X. Attendances at Infant Consultation Clinics, 1939.

Centre	No. on Register	Attendances		Sessions	Average attendances per session
Centre	No. on Register	Primary	Total	Sessions	Average attendances per session

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TABLE XI. Attendances at Special Toddlers Clinics (2-5 Years), 1939.

Centre	Routine examinations	Observation attendances	Total attendances	Sessions	Average attendances per session

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TABLE XII. Attendances at all Infant Welfare Clinics, 1939. (Infant Consultation and Special Toddler).

Centre	No. on Register	Attendances		Sessions	Average attendance per session
Centre	No. on Register	* Primary	Total	Sessions	Average attendance per session

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TABLE XIII. Attendances at all Centres over last 10 Years.

Year	No. of Infants attending during year	No. of Women attending Maternity Clinics	ATTENDANCES			Grand Total
			Infants		Maternity
			Primary under 1 yr.	Total	Maternity

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TABLE XIV. CHILDREN ATTENDING CENTRES DURING 1939. B y A ge G roups.

Children born in	MERTON CENTRE			MORDEN CENTRE			RAYNES	PARK CENTRE		PARISH HALL CENTRE			ALL CENTRES
	Number attended	Attendances	Average attendances per child	Number attended	Attendances	Average attendances per child	Number attended	Attendances	Average attendances per child	Number attended	Attendances	Average attendances per child	Number attended	Attendances	Average Attendances per child

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TABLE XV. Number of Children under 1 Year and Expectant Mothers Attending the Centres in Relation to the Registered Births.

Year	Registered births	Infanta under 1 year		Mothers who attended either Ante-Natally or Post-Natally.
Year	Registered births	Primary attendances	Percentage of registered births	N umber attended	Percentage of registered births

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The following information kindly supplied by the Secretary indicates the work of the Hospital Clinics during 1939:—

Infant Clinic—	From Merton and Morden.	From all Districts.

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Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinic—

	Ante-Natal.		Post-Natal.
	Merton and Morden.	All Districts.	Merton and Morden.	All Districts.

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The number of visits made for various purposes was as shown below.

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Assisted Milk Scheme. The following table shows the number of persons assisted by the provision of fresh milk, and the extent of this assistance in each ward:— TABLE XVI. Milk Grants, 1939.

Wards.	Free Milk.			Half-price.
Wards.	Individuals	Families	Pints Supplied	Individuals	Families	Pints Supplied

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TABLE XVII. Attendances at Dental Clinics, 1939.

Cases referred from.	No. who attended during year.	No. of attendances made.

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TABLE XVIII. DENTAL SCHEME, 1939—OPERATIONS PERFORMED

Extractions.

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The following figures indicate the work undertaken by the Council's midwife during the year

Cases conducted—		Primip.	Multip.	Total.

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Eradication of Bed-Bugs. Twenty-three houses were found on inspection to be infested with bed-bugs and are classified as follows in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry's Circular:—

Council Houses.	Other Houses.	Total.

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Meat Inspection. CARCASES INSPECTED AND CONDEMNED.

	Cattle	Cows	Calves	Sheep	Pigs

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Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928. The above-mentioned Act was administered by the Surrey County Council up to the end of September. Samples were obtained by the County Inspectors and submitted to the public analyst as follows:—

Articles.	Analysed.			Adulterated or Deteriorated.
Articles.	Formal.	Informal.	Total.	Formal.	Informal.	Total.

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SUMMARY OF SAMPLES.

	Total Samples	Genuine	Not Genuine	Prosecutions	Cautions

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RESULT OF ANALYSES OF NEW MILK SAMPLES Solids not Fat (Legal standard is 8.5%).

8.2		8.3	5.35	8.4	8.4 5	8.5	8.6	8.7	8.8	8 0	9 0	9.1	Total

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Milk Fat (Legal standard is 3.0%).

3.5	3.6	3.7	3.8	3.9	4.0	4.1	4.2	4.3	4.4		4.6	Total

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The following table shows the calls made upon the ambulance service during the past five years:—

Year.	Accidents.	Hospitals.	Total.

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SECTION D—HOUSING. New Houses. The new houses and flats erected during the year were as follows :—

Wards.	By the Local Authority	By the London County Council	By Private Enterprise

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Details of the overcrowding and decrowding in the individual Wards are given in the following table:—

Wards.	Dwellings overcrowded at end of 1938.	Number found to be overcrowded during 1939.	Number decrowded during the year.	Remaining overcrowded at end of 1939.

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FACTORIES ACT. 1. —Inspections.

Premises. (1)	Number of
Premises. (1)	Inspections. (2)	Written Notioes. (3)	Occupiers prosecuted. (4)

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2.—Defects Found.

Particulars. a)		Number of Defects.			N umber of defects in respect of which Prosecutions were instituted. (5)
Particulars. a)		Found. (2)	Remedied. (3)	Referred to H.M. Inspector (4)

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TABLE XIX. SCARLET FEVER—MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION.

1939	Wards.
1939	Abbey.	Bushey Mead.	Central.	Morden.	Park.	Ravensbury.	Raynes Park.	St. Helier.	West Barnes.	Total.

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The incidence in the various wards was as follows:—

Wards.	Cases.	Incidence per 1,000 population.

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TABLE XX. SCARLET FEVER—MULTIPLE CASES OCCURRING IN DOMESTIC DWELLINGS.

Wards.	Total oases in houses in each Ward.	No. of houses in which occurred.			No. of houses with cases.
		1 case	2 cases.	3 cases.

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TABLE XXI. INCIDENCE AND FATALITY OF SCARLET FEVER OVER LAST 20 YEARS.

Year.	Population. No. of cases.		Incidence rate per 1,000 population.	No. of deaths.	Percentage of deaths to cases.

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TABLE XXII. DIPHTHERIA, 1939—WARD INCIDENCE.

Wards.	Cases.	Rate per 1,000 population 1939.

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TABLE XXIII. DIPHTHERIA—MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION, 1939.

1939	Wards.									Total.
1939	Abbey.	Bush^y Mead.	Central.	Morden.	Park.	Ravensbury.	Raynes Park.	St. Helier.	West Barnes.	Total.

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TABLE XXIV. DIPHTHERIA—MULTIPLE CASES OCCURRING IN DOMESTIC DWELLINGS, 1939.

Wards.	Total cases.	No. of houses with			No. of houses with cases.
Wards.	Total cases.	1 Case.	2 Cases.	3 Cases.	No. of houses with cases.

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TABLE XXV. DIPHTHERIA—INCIDENCE BY AGE GROUPS.

	AGE GROUPS											Total all Ages
	Under 1 year	1-2 years	2-3 years	3-4 years	4-5 years	5-10 years	10-15 years	15-25 years	25-35 years	35-45 years	Over 45 years	Total all Ages

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TABLE XXVI. PERSONS IMMUNISED AT CLINICS DURING 1939.

Wards.	Age Groups			Total.
Wards.	0-5 years	5-15 years	15 and over	Total.

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TABLE XXVII. PERSONS IMMUNISED BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS, 1939.

Wards	Age Groups			Total
Wards	0-5 years	5-15 years	15 and over	Total

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TABLE XXVIII. CHILDREN IMMUNISED IN SCHOOLS, 1939.

School	Incomplete	Complete

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The number immunised since the inauguration of the Public Clinics in 1934 was as follows:—

	At Clinics.	By Doctors.	In Schools.	Total.

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TABLE XXIX. INCIDENCE AND FATALITY OF DIPHTHERIA, 1919-1939.

Year.	Population.	No. of cases.	Incidence rate per 1,000 population.	No, of deaths.	Percentage of deaths to cases.

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The other a staphylococcal infection completely recovered after home treatment.

Cases.			Vision Unimpaired.	Vision Impaired.	Total Blindness.	Death.
Notified.	Treated
Notified.	At Home	In Hosp.

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TABLE XXX. INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NOTIFICATION DEATHS AND DISTRIBUTION, 1939.

Disease	Cases Notified	Case rate per 1,000 Population	Deaths among notified cases	Percentage of deaths to cases	Distribution of cases Wards									No. of cases removed to hospital	Percentage of cases removed to hospital
Disease	Cases Notified	Case rate per 1,000 Population	Deaths among notified cases	Percentage of deaths to cases	Abbey	Bushey Mead	Central	Morden	Park	Ravensbury	Ravnes Park	St. Helier	West Barnes	No. of cases removed to hospital	Percentage of cases removed to hospital

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TABLE XXXI. NOTIFICATION OP INFECTIOUS DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis) by Age Groups during the year 1939.

Disease.	TOTAL CASES NOTIFIED.												Total Cases at all Ages.
Disease.	Under 1 year	1-2	2-3	3-4	4-5	5-10	10-15 1	15-25	25-35	35-45	45-65	65 and over	Total Cases at all Ages.

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TABLE XXXII. MONTHLY INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE, 1939.

Disease.	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	April	May	June	July	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Totals

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These additions were:—

	Males.	Females.	Total

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TABLE XXXIII. TUBERCULOSIS REGISTER AT 31st DECEMBER, 1939. AND REGISTERED NUMBER OP TUBERCULOUS PERSONS PER 1,000 POPULATION AT MID-YEAR.

Wards.	Registered at December 31st.			At Mid-Year.
Wards.	Pulmonary.	Non. Pulmonary.	Total.	Number on Register.	N umber on Register per 1,000 population.

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Institutional treatment was provided for 135 persons from Merton and Morden as follows:—

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TABLE XXXIV. DEATHS DUE TO TUBERCULOSIS, 1939.

Ages Years.	Pulmonary.		Non-Pulmonary.		Totals.
Ages Years.	Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.	Totals.

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TABLE XXXV. TUBERCULOSIS—New Cases, Age and Sex, Distribution and manner of Admission to Register, 1939.

Age Groups. Years.	Primary Notifications (" A ").				Cases transferred from other districts.				Cases brought to notice otherwise than by notification and transfer.				Total new cases.
	Pulmonary.		Non-Pulmonary.		Pulmonary.		Non-Pulmonary.		Pulmonary.		Non-Pulmonary.
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F

London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report tables

Merton and Morden 1939

73 tables in this report

The monthly recordings are as shown below:—

SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS FOR 1939. (Registrar General's Figures).

TABLE I. COMPARATIVE STATISTICS, 1939. (R.G.'s Provisional Figures with Corresponding Figures for Merton and Morden added).

The estimated population of the wards is as follows:—

BIRTHS, 1939—DISTRIBUTION BY WARDS.

The numbers in respect of the various wards were as shown in the following table:—

TABLE II. Showing Births and Deaths with Rates since the Amalgamation of Merton with Morden.

TABLE III. Ward Death Rates and Mean Age at Death.

Deaths in Institutions. Half the total deaths registered occurred in hospitals and institutions. Two hundred and fifty-seven, representing 50 % of the whole, took place in the following premises:—

TABLE IV. Deaths from Respiratory Diseases, 1925-39.

TABLE V. Causes of Death during the Year 1939.

TABLE VI. MATERNAL MORTALITY, 1924-39.

The infant mortality rates since 1921 are as follows:—

There are slightly higher than if calculated on the registered births which totalled 1,005.

TABLE VII.—INFANT MORTALITY DURING THE YEAR 1939 Deaths classified as to cause and age at death.

The figures relating to cases and visits in Merton and Morden during 1939 are as follows:—

The following examinations were made during the year:—

The following is a summary of the working of the service in 1939:— AMBULANCE CALLS, 1939.

CLINICS AND TREATMENT CENTRES. 1.—Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics (provided by the Council).

2.—Diphtheria Immunisation Clinics (provided by the Council).

3.—School Clinics (provided by Surrey Education Committee).

4.—Tuberculosis Dispensaries (provided by Surrey County Council).

These are arranged as follows:—

TABLE VIII. CASES ADMITTED TO THE WANDLE VALLEY ISOLATION HOSPITAL DURING THE YEAR 1939.

MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE. Public Health Act, 1936, Section 203—Notification of Births.—The births notified under Section 203 as adjusted by transferred notifications were:—

TABLE IX. Attendances at Maternity Clincs, 1939.

TABLE X. Attendances at Infant Consultation Clinics, 1939.

TABLE XI. Attendances at Special Toddlers Clinics (2-5 Years), 1939.

TABLE XII. Attendances at all Infant Welfare Clinics, 1939. (Infant Consultation and Special Toddler).

TABLE XIII. Attendances at all Centres over last 10 Years.

TABLE XIV. CHILDREN ATTENDING CENTRES DURING 1939. B y A ge G roups.

TABLE XV. Number of Children under 1 Year and Expectant Mothers Attending the Centres in Relation to the Registered Births.

The following information kindly supplied by the Secretary indicates the work of the Hospital Clinics during 1939:—

Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinic—

The number of visits made for various purposes was as shown below.

Assisted Milk Scheme. The following table shows the number of persons assisted by the provision of fresh milk, and the extent of this assistance in each ward:— TABLE XVI. Milk Grants, 1939.

TABLE XVII. Attendances at Dental Clinics, 1939.

TABLE XVIII. DENTAL SCHEME, 1939—OPERATIONS PERFORMED

The following figures indicate the work undertaken by the Council's midwife during the year

Eradication of Bed-Bugs. Twenty-three houses were found on inspection to be infested with bed-bugs and are classified as follows in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry's Circular:—

Meat Inspection. CARCASES INSPECTED AND CONDEMNED.

Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928. The above-mentioned Act was administered by the Surrey County Council up to the end of September. Samples were obtained by the County Inspectors and submitted to the public analyst as follows:—

SUMMARY OF SAMPLES.

RESULT OF ANALYSES OF NEW MILK SAMPLES Solids not Fat (Legal standard is 8.5%).

Milk Fat (Legal standard is 3.0%).

The following table shows the calls made upon the ambulance service during the past five years:—

SECTION D—HOUSING. New Houses. The new houses and flats erected during the year were as follows :—

Details of the overcrowding and decrowding in the individual Wards are given in the following table:—

FACTORIES ACT. 1. —Inspections.

2.—Defects Found.

TABLE XIX. SCARLET FEVER—MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION.

The incidence in the various wards was as follows:—

TABLE XX. SCARLET FEVER—MULTIPLE CASES OCCURRING IN DOMESTIC DWELLINGS.

TABLE XXI. INCIDENCE AND FATALITY OF SCARLET FEVER OVER LAST 20 YEARS.

TABLE XXII. DIPHTHERIA, 1939—WARD INCIDENCE.

TABLE XXIII. DIPHTHERIA—MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION, 1939.

TABLE XXIV. DIPHTHERIA—MULTIPLE CASES OCCURRING IN DOMESTIC DWELLINGS, 1939.

TABLE XXV. DIPHTHERIA—INCIDENCE BY AGE GROUPS.

TABLE XXVI. PERSONS IMMUNISED AT CLINICS DURING 1939.

TABLE XXVII. PERSONS IMMUNISED BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS, 1939.

TABLE XXVIII. CHILDREN IMMUNISED IN SCHOOLS, 1939.

The number immunised since the inauguration of the Public Clinics in 1934 was as follows:—

TABLE XXIX. INCIDENCE AND FATALITY OF DIPHTHERIA, 1919-1939.

The other a staphylococcal infection completely recovered after home treatment.

TABLE XXX. INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NOTIFICATION DEATHS AND DISTRIBUTION, 1939.

TABLE XXXI. NOTIFICATION OP INFECTIOUS DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis) by Age Groups during the year 1939.

TABLE XXXII. MONTHLY INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE, 1939.

These additions were:—

TABLE XXXIII. TUBERCULOSIS REGISTER AT 31st DECEMBER, 1939. AND REGISTERED NUMBER OP TUBERCULOUS PERSONS PER 1,000 POPULATION AT MID-YEAR.

Institutional treatment was provided for 135 persons from Merton and Morden as follows:—

TABLE XXXIV. DEATHS DUE TO TUBERCULOSIS, 1939.

TABLE XXXV. TUBERCULOSIS—New Cases, Age and Sex, Distribution and manner of Admission to Register, 1939.