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previous year. The maternal mortality rate was 1.75 in
comparison with 0.72 for England and Wales. (The figure for
London is not yet available.)
Atmospheric pollution. On page 11 reference is made to
the sudden increase in deaths from broncho-pneumonia and heart
disease associated with the smoke-fog which occurred in the
early part of December, 1952.
Infectious diseases. There was no serious outbreak of
infectious disease in the Borough during 1952. The total
number of notifications received was 1,731 in comparison with
the total number received during the previous year of 2,479.
The difference in the figures in these years was mainly due
to the reduction in the number of notifications of measles and
whooping cough. One of the welcome features of the incidence
of infectious diseases during 1952 was that no case of
diphtheria occurred. This was the first year on record that
Kensington has been entirely free from diphtheria. Reference
has been made in previous annual reports to the rapid
reduction since the 1930's in the annual number of cases of
diphtheria notified. This is to a large extent due to the
intensive preventive work carried out in regard to the
immunisation of children against this disease since 1934.
Tuberculosis. The death rate from all forms of
tuberculosis per 100,000 population was 18.5 for 1952, which
was the lowest figure ever recorded in Kensington. The number
of new cases of tuberculosis notified, however, during the
year was 251 which compares with a figure of 238 for the
previous year. Furthermore, the number of cases registered
in the Borough increased during the year from 1,342 to 1,414.
The work carried out by the Public Health Department in
connection with the environmental aspects of tuberculosis was
maintained at a high level, and every newly notified case, or
known case transferred into Kensington, has been carefully
investigated with the object of removing conditions etc.,
conducive to the spread of infection. A more detailed
reference to this aspect of the work is made later in the Report.
It will be seen from the foregoing remarks that statistically
the state of the health of the residents of Kensington is
satisfactory, but it will be remembered that attention was drawn
in my Report for last year to the many residents whose
environmental conditions could not be regarded with equanimity.
Repair of houses. The problem of maintaining existing
dwelling houses in a reasonable state of habitation is becoming
more urgent as time goes on. The position of some owners of
rent-controlled properties in maintaining habitable conditions
is becoming increasingly difficult. The difficulties which
have confronted the Council in exercising their powers under
Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936, (which deals with the
repair of unfit houses) have, at last, brought the work to a
standstill. No house in the borough was dealt with under this
Section during 1952. On the 23rd June, 1952, the Public Health
Committee held a special meeting to consider the position. A
report was submitted to the Council on the 15th July, 1952,
and the conclusions set out below illustrate the seriousness
of the present position-
"We are driven inevitably to the conclusion that there is
no satisfactory way out of the present difficulties with regard
to the disrepair of houses other than by increasing the rents
of houses subject to the Rent Restrictions Acts. This cannot be
done without an amendment of the law, and it is a matter of