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9
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the health
the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea for 1930.
The report is a "Survey" report as defined in the appropriate circular
of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry's programme stipulates that
for each series of five years from 1925 onwards there shall be published
one Survey and four Ordinary reports. Survey reports are expected
to deal with the measure of progress made in the area during the preceding
five years in the improvement of the public health, in addition
to reviewing the sanitary circumstances, the sanitary administration
and the vital statistics relative to the District for the year under consideration.
The chief vital statistics relating to the year are as follows:—The
civil population for 19S0 is not available at the time of going to Press.
The Registrar-General's mid-year 1929 estimate of population (62,680)
is therefore utilised in the preparation of vital statistics for the year
1930. The birth rate (12-7) is higher than that for last year (11.7).
The marriage rate (10-2) is lower than that for last year (11-04). The
death rate (12-5) is higher than that for London generally (11 -4) and
compares with (15-7) last year. It is, perhaps, not generally realised
that nearly 9 per cent, of the Chelsea population is made up of persons
over 65 years of age—a much higher proportion than that obtaining
in any other Metropolitan Borough—and that one-half of all deaths
in Chelsea occur in persons over 65 years of age.
The infant mortality rate was 40, as compared with 70 last year. This
represents the lowest infant mortality rate ever recorded in the Borough.
These figures indicate that the general improvement in the public
health of the Borough continues to be maintained.
There was a very slight increase in the total incidence of notifiable
infectious disease last year, mainly owing to an increased number of
cases of chicken pox and tuberculosis. The numbers of cases of diphtheria,
scarlet fever and pneumonia were much less, while those from
erysipelas and ophthalmia neonatorum remained approximately the
same.
A considerable increase is recorded in the number of cases of measles.
At the end of the year there were 299 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
and 74 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis known to be living in the
Borough—a total higher than that for last year.
Maternity and Child Welfare work has continued to grow in extent
and usefulness during the year. The attendances at the welfare centres