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4
the crude death rate is multiplied by the Comparative Factor which
has the effect of making a corrected death rate comparable with the
death rate of any other district which has been similarly adjusted,,
The Area Comparability Factor for Chelsea is 0.95, and the death rate
for 1950 when so adjusted is 11.6.
It is gratifying to record that, for the fourth consecutive year,
no deaths occurred from accidents and diseases associated with pregnancy
or puerperal pyrexia.
The infant mortality rate for 1950 was 25 per 1,000 births, as
compared with 26 in 1949, 40 in 1948, and 44 in both 1947 and 1946.
The rate for the year under review is the lowest ever recorded,, In
1900 the rate was 148 per 1,000 live births.
There was a sharp rise in the number of Infectious Disease
notifications received, and subsequently confirmed, by the Public
Health Department. The total was 837, as compared with 616 in 1949.
The increase is largely accounted for by the following additions:Dysentery
107; Food Poisoning 1163 Whooping Cough 47. More detailed
information on these matters will be found in the "Infectious Diseases"
section of my report.
Four hundred samples of food and drugs were submitted to the
Public Analyst for examination,, Of this total, only 13 were reported
as "adulterated", mainly due to labelling defects, but in no instance
was recourse to legal proceedings necessary.
All premises concerned with the preparation, storage and sale
of food were subjected to constant supervision, whilst all persons
engaged in such premises were kept fully aware of the responsibilities
vested in them to ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness,,
In addition to her normal duties, the Woman Sanitary Inspector
carried out a detailed survey of food handling establishments. In all
483 food premises were inspected, and full details of the volume of work
involved will be found in the section devoted to "Inspection and
Supervision of Food". She has also laid great emphasis on strict
attention to cleanliness in every aspect of the preparation, storage and
sale of ice cream, the value of which will be seen in the table showing
the gradings of ice creams submitted for analysis.
The care of Old People is a matter which has been diligently dealt
with by the Public Health Department throughout the year. An Old
People's Welfare Committee meets at regular intervals to consider ways and
means of brightening the lives of such persons, whilst the Borough Council
makes an annual grant to the above Committee to help further this
excellent work. Details of some of the work done during the year are
included in this report.