View report page

CAM 55
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
TOWN HALL,
CAMBEFWELL, S.E.5
June, 1961
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
MR. MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS,
I have much pleasure in presenting my Annual Report
for 1960.
The general standard of health of the population
maintained a satisfactory level and the vital statistics
showed no significant change. The population, as estimated
by the Registrar-General at mid-1960 was 175,020 - a
further reduction of 1,080. The general death rate fell
to 10.8 as compared with 11.4 last year and there was a
reduction of three points in the birth rate (17.6).
Deaths of infants under one year numbered 76, equivalent
to 24.7 per 1,000 live births and it is gratifying
to record that for the first time no maternal deaths were
reported. There was a slight increase in the number of
deaths from tuberculosis (18 as compared with 14 in 1959)
but the previous year's figure was an exceptionally low
one. Cancer of the lung and bronchus was responsible for
the death of 95 men and 25 women, whereas in 1959 the
corresponding figures were 105 and 16; this is the first
time for some years that there has been a decrease in the
number of male deaths from this cause, and the increase
in the number of female deaths is an exceptionally large
one. It would be rash to suggest any possible reason for
this change of pattern as the figures for 1960 may be coincidental,
but if this trend continues, and is general
it may provide further clues as to the causative factor
and, in particular, the part played by cigarette smoking.