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9
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the health of
the (Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea for 1931.
The report is an "Ordinary" 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. Ordinary reports are expected
to deal with the sanitary circumstances, the sanitary administration and
the vital statistics relating to the District for the year under review.
Any further action of importance in the organization or development of
public health services contemplated by the Local Authority or considered
desirable by the Medical Officer of Health must also be dealt with.
The chief vital statistics relating to the year are as follows :—The
resident population of the borough is estimated by the Registrar-General
at .57,220, a figure which is below that for last year.
The birth rate (12.8) is higher than that for last year (12.7). The
marriage rate (10.7) is also higher than that for last year (10.2). The death
rate (14.1) is higher than that for London generally (12.4) and compares
with (12.5) 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 42, as compared with 40 last year. This
represents the lowest infant mortality rate in the metropolitan area.
These figures indicate that the general improvement in the public
health of the Borough continues to be maintained.
There was a considerable decrease in the total incidence of notifiable
infectious disease last year. The numbers of cases of diphtheria, scarlet
fever, chicken pox, erysipelas and tuberculosis were much less, while
those of pneumonia showed a definite increase.
A considerable reduction was recorded in the number of cases of measles.
At the end of the year there were 300 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
and 76 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis known to be living in the
Borough—a total approximately the same as that for last year.
Maternity and Child Welfare work has continued to grow in extent
and usefulness. The attendances at the welfare centres were 8,834,
and 7,206 visits to homes of patients were recorded. I continue to
receive most valuable assistance from the Chelsea Health Society, and