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4
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF FULHAM
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
TOWN HALL, FULHAM, S. W. 6.
May, 1959.
To: The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham
Mr. Mayor, Ladles and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the annual report on the health and sanitary
circumstances in the Borough for the year 1958, together with the report of your
Public Analyst. T. McLachlan, Esq., A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I.C., M. I. Biol.
Statistics
The Registrar General's estimate gives the mid-year population of the Borough as
114,700, a decrease of 1,500. This is the largest decrease of the past 10 years.
In 1949, the estimated population was 124,040 - an increase of 740 over the figure
for 1948.
The birth rate is 15.39 - exactly the same as in 1957 and compares with a rate of
18.3 per 1,000 in 1949 ten years ago.
The infant mortality rate has dropped steeply - 18. 13 in 1958 from 26.29 in 1957.
This is the lowest infant mortality rate on record for the Borough and compares
favourably with England and Wales (22.5).
The death rate is 11.16, the figure for 1957 being 11.04.
The death rate in Fulham from tubercular disease of 14.8 per 100,000 shows a fall
compared with the figure of 19.8 for 1957. These figures show the steady decline
which has taken place in the incidence and mortality of this disease. The same
decline continues in the notification rate, which was 90.7 in 1958 and 106.7 in 1957.
This shows the great improvement on ten years ago, when the figures for 1949 were:
T. B. Death rate per 100.000 population, 48.4 and notification rate, per 100.000, 192.7.
I regret to report one maternal death during the year.
These statistics confirm that the state of good health was maintained in Fulham.
From the classification of causes of death, it will be seen that all diseases of
the heart account for the largest number of deaths. The second largest number is due
to all forms of cancer, which show a slight rise for both males and females in lung
and bronchus cancer. Bronchitis and the pneumonias account for the third largest
number of deaths.
Infectious Diseases
The incidence of infectious diseases was low and there was no serious epidemic
during the year. There were 1,030 notifications received, which was less than half
the 1957 figure. This is accounted for by the fact that in 1957, the expected
epidemic of measles occurred, 1,531 notifications of the disease being received.
Seven confirmed cases of poliomyelitis occurred, with one death (a Scottish adult male
visitor, 26 years old). There was a rise in the number of dysentery cases notified.
Such a rise was experienced generally. The disease was mild in nature, with a rapid
recovery. As a result of immunization and anti-biotic drugs, the clinical character