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4
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege and a pleasure once again to present to you my
Annual Report on the health of Battersea for the year 1956. As in
previous years, the Report is mainly statistical, with comments on the
figures as appear to be necessary and appropriate. In this preamble to
the Report, I draw attention to one or two matters which appear to be
of particular interest.
The population of the Borough, which has been decreasing over
the last two or three years, further decreased in 1956, when the estimated
population was 112,900. The live birth rate was 15.6, a very slight
increase over the previous year, while the death rate was 10.8, which
was a slight reduction over the previous year. As in the previous year.
three women died from causes associated with childbirth. In the year
1956, 42 infants died before attaining their first birthday, which gives
an infant mortality rate of 23.7, a slight reduction over 1955, but still
above the low rates achieved in 1952, 1953 and 1954.
There was a considerable drop in the number of infectious diseases
notified during the year, accounted for in the main by the diminished
incidence of measles. In 1956, only 274 cases of measles were notified
as compared with 1,934 in 1955. A total of 29 cases of poliomyelitis
were notified, but in 6 of these the diagnosis was not confirmed. There
was one death from this disease.
During 1956, we experienced a sharp increase in the incidence of
dysentery. The form of dysentery which occurred is known as Sonne
dysentery, and over the past decade this form of dysentery has shown
a considerable increase in many parts of the country. It is not a
serious disease in the sense that it has a high mortality, except possibly
in young babies or old people, but, nevertheless, it has a considersable
nuisance value. In spite of its being a comparatively trivial disease,
we regard its prevention as being very important, and a considerable
amount of effort is expended to bring outbreaks, when they occur, under
control. Extensive use is made of bacteriological examination, arrangements
being made by the Inspectors and staff of the Department, and
in all 553 persons were examined in connection with the outbreaks, and
total of 1,755 specimens were submitted to the Laboratory for exarnination.
I should like to express my thanks and appreciation of the help
and co-operation we have received from the Public Health Laboratory
in this work. We always know that however many specimens are
submitted to the Laboratory, they will be expeditiously examined and
reported upon, whereupon the appropriate action can be taken at the
first opportunity. A large proportion of cases occurred in school
children, and I should like also to express my thanks for the help and
assistance we have received from the head teachers of the school
affected. Outbreaks of dysentery in schools can give rise to considerable
complications, and head teachers naturally are only too glad to do all
they can to help us bring outbreaks under control.
There was a further drop in the number of cases of tuberculosis
primarily notified to us, thus continuing the downward trend which has
been noted over the past five years. During the year there was a total