London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report tables

Kensington 1955

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

Published
1956
Pages
79
Tables
54

This page requires JavaScript

54 tables in this report

  • Page 1
    Infant death rate. This rate for 1955 was 31.4,. which was an increase over the rate for the previous year of 8.9. The rate for the County of London was 23.3 and for England and Wales was 24.9. The following table shows the rates for the last five years:-
    YearKensingtonLondonEngland & Wales
  • Page 3
    The main disease of the lungs, of which the public are best bare, is pulmonary tuberculosis, and in the following table the death rates from this disease, since the end of the war, are compared with the death rates for lung cancer, both for Kensington and for England and Wales.
    YearEngland and WalesKensington
    Pulmonary TuberculosisCancer of the LungPulmonary TuberculosisCancer of the Lung
    DeathsRateDeathsRateDeathsRateDeathsRate
  • Page 8 9
    SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS FOR KENSINGTON
    Description19551954195319521951195019491948
  • Page 11
    CAUSES OF DEATH AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF LIFE IN 1955
    Cause of deathAll agesUnder 1 year1 year and under 55 years and under 4545 years and over
  • Page 12
    The following is a summary of the work performed during 1955:-
    Nature of specimen or sampleNumber examined
  • Page 12
    The record of work done during 1955 is as follows:-
    DescriptionScabiesVerminImpetigoOther conditions
    PersonsCleans -ingsPersonsCleans -ingsPersonsCleans -ingsPersonsCleans -ings
  • Page 15
    Prevalence of Rats and Mice
    Type of Property
    Local AuthorityDwelling HousesAll other (including Business & Industrial)Total
  • Page 16
    This sewer-baiting has been going on for some years and the figures of the estimated destruction of rats for the past five years are as follows:-
    YearEstimated number of rats killed
    First treatmentSecond treatment
  • Page 16
    The rodent staff deal with infestations from pests other than rats and mice, and the following is a summary of all action taken during the year:-
  • Page 17
    Seventeen samples of rag flock and other fillings were taken during the year for analysis and the result in each case was satisfactory.
    DescriptionNo. of samples taken
  • Page 22
    A. Deposit Gauge
    Month 1955Days exposedRain fall (ins.)Total deposits for period in tons per square mileDeposits per day in tons per square mile (average)
    SolubleInsolubleTotalSolubleInsolubleTotal
  • Page 22
    South Kensington
  • Page 22
    Milligrams of sulphur trioxide per day
    Month 1955Days exposedNorth KensingtonSouth Kensington
  • Page 23
    The following table compares the Kensington results with those of a country district, and with those of a large industrial area in the north of England:-
    Month 1955North KensingtonSouth KensingtonCountry DistrictIndustrial District
    A.B.A.B.A.B,A,B.
  • Page 23
    These comparative figures may be summarized as follows:-
    Total weight of deposit for year in tons per sq. mileDaily average of sulphur over the year in milligrams of sulphur trioxide
  • Page 23
    Readings from the two monthly stations have now extended over two whole years, and it is possible to compare the results of the two years.
    YearNo. of days exposedTotal weight of deposited matter in tons per square mile.Daily average of sulphur in milligrams of sulphur trioxide.
    North KensingtonSouth KensingtonNorth KensingtonSouth Kensington
  • Page 24
    Concentration of smoke in milligrams per cubic metre
    Month 1955Highest valueLowest valueAverage value
  • Page 24
    Concentration of sulphur in partsper million volumes of air
    Month 1955Highest valueLowest valueAverage value
  • Page 25
    Concentration of smoke-millgrams per cubic metre
    Month 1955Highest valueLowest valueAverage value
  • Page 29
    The following is a summary of work carried out in 1955:-
  • Page 31
    The following statement shows the progress of the service and financial effect since it was taken over by the Kensington Communal Services Committee:-
    PeriodNumber of mealsGross CostReceipts from old peopleSubsidy from L.C.CGrant from R.B.KNet Cost
  • Page 32
    The following is a summary of the work carried out by the Council's Women Health Officers in connection with the care of old people during the year 1955:-
  • Page 34
    SANITARY INSPECTION The following table shows a summary of the inspections, etc., carried out by the sanitary inspectors during the year:-
  • Page 34
    The following table shows the number of notices issued in respect of nuisances, defects, etc., found during the year:-
  • Page 35
    The following is a summary of works completed under the supervision of the sanitary inspectors during the year:-
  • Page 35
    HOUSING
  • Page 36
    Continued from previous page...
  • Page 37
    The following table gives a summary of the action taken under the 1954 Act during the year:-
    CategoryApplications for certificates of disrepairApplications for certificates to be revoked
    No. grantedNo. refusedNo. grantedNo. refused
  • Page 41
    Name of AreaDate of DeclarationNo. of housesNo. of persons displaced
  • Page 42
    As a result of this survey, 3,293 houses were deemed to be unfit for habitation. Included in these, were the following areas which were thought to be suitable for slum clearance:-
    PremisesEstimated population
    FamiliesPersons
  • Page 43
    Total number of permanent dwellings in the borough 38,397
  • Page 44
    The two Councils agreed to allocate work of slum clearance as follows:-
  • Page 46
    Applications for improvement grants received and dealt with during 1955 are summarised as follows:-
  • Page 46
    The post-war new housing schemes completed or being erected in Kensington by the Council are summarised as follows:-
    Dwellings
  • Page 47
    Seventy-eight new cases were dealt with in 1955 by the Special Sub-Committee as follows:-
  • Page 48
    Further plans are being made to erect on the site of Elgin Mews and Lonsdale Mews, (other clearance areas), the following accommodations, with manure stores, conveniences, etc.
    Elgin MewsLonsdale Mews
  • Page 48
    Inspections
    PremisesNumber on RegisterNumber of of InspectionsNumber of Written Notices
  • Page 49
    Defects found
    ParticularsNo. of defects foundNo. of defects remediedNo. of defects referred
    To H. M. InspectorsBy H. M. Inspectors
  • Page 49
    The following table shows the nature of the work carried out by the one hundred and ninety home workers on the register of outworkers during 1955:-
    Nature of workNumber
  • Page 50
    Premises, where food is prepared, stored or exposed for sale for human consumption, are frequently inspected. The following is a record of the inspections made by the sanitary inspectors engaged on this work for 1955:-
    Premises registered under -No. of premisesNo. of Inspections
  • Page 52
    Details of licences granted during 1955 are as follows:-
    PrincipalSupplementary
  • Page 52
    The following table shows the number of samples of processed milk taken during the year, together with results of the examinations:-
    DesignationNo. of samplesMethylene blue testPhosphatase testTurbidity test
    PassedFailedPassedFailedPassedFailed
  • Page 53
    dairymen and dairies during 1955, and the numbers of persons and dairies registered at the end of the year are shown in the following table
    DairymenDairiesPurveyors of milk in sealed containers
  • Page 54
    The following table shows percentages of milk fats and non-fat solids of the genuine samples taken during each month:-
    MonthNo. of samples takenAverage percentages
    Milk fatsNon-fat solids
  • Page 55
    During the year the following amounts of food were surrendered and condemned as unfit for human consumption:-
    FoodTonsCwts.Qrs.Lb.
  • Page 55
    In October, 1955, a water main burst in a roadway in South Kensington. Two foodshops were badly flooded and a large amount of food was rendered unsalable or unfit for human consumption and had to be destroyed. A summary of the damaged food is as follows:-
    FoodCwts.Qrs.Lb.
  • Page 58
    The following table shows the number of samples taken during 1955 for chemical analysis compared with the previous year:-
    19541955
  • Page 59
    During the year twenty samples of ice cream were taken and submitted to the methylene blue test. The results are as follows:-
    GradeNo. of samples
  • Page 59
    Pood poisoning notifications (corrected)
  • Page 64
    The figures for the past five years are as follows:-
    YearConfirmed casesDeaths
  • Page 65
    The following table shows the number of cases added to and the number removed from, the notification register during the year:-
    DescriptionRespiratoryNon RespiratoryTotal
    MFMF
  • Page 68
    TABLE 1
    Notifiable diseaseNumber of cases notified
    195519541953195219511950194919248
  • Page 69
    TABLE 2
    Notifiable diseaseNumber of Cases Notified in 1955 Age Groups in Years
    Under 11 to 23 to 45 to 910 to 1415 to 2425 & over
  • Page 69
    TABLE 3
    Notifiable diseaseTotal Cases Notified in each Ward
    St. CharlesGolborneNorlandPembridgeHollandEarls CourtQueens GateRedcliffeBrompton