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Public Health Department,
Deptford Town Hall, S.E.14.
August, 1955.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Deptford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting this account of the health and sanitary
circumstances of the Borough for 1954.
The population continues to decline and the Birth-Rate is the lowest
since 1938. On the other hand the Infantile Mortality Rate at 16.5 is
the lowest ever recorded in the Borough and must afford satisfaction.
The figure is well below the average for London and the Country as a
whole.
The death rate of 12.0 is above the average for London, but this figure
would be much improved if our statistics were not weighted with the
deaths of old people admitted to New Cross General Hospital.
Total notifications of Infectious Diseases showed considerable decline
due mainly to the lower incidence of Measles and Dysentery. Primary
cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis increased from 147 to 156, but there
were five fewer deaths. Despite great advances in the treatment of this
disease, as evidenced by fewer deaths, and excellent follow-up and contact
tracing, the progress being made in eradicating Pulmonary Tuberculosis
from the community is disappointing. It would appear that greater
emphasis will have to be placed on immunology as opposed to sociology.
As in all Infectious Diseases, sociological factors are important but
individual resistance or immunity to tuberculosis may be even more vital
from the epidemiological aspect. How often we find individuals living in
perhaps better conditions and not as frequently exposed to infection,
contract the disease and succumb quickly. It is therefore the duty of the
epidemiologist while paying due attention to the living environment and
social needs of each member of the community to examine the possibility
of actively immunising every susceptible individual in much the same way
as diphtheria prophylaxis is utilised. Of course, with Tuberculosis the
population at risk is much greater, and the administrative difficulties are
more formidable, but it seems that a more intensive use of B.C.G.
Vaccination is indicated in the near future.
During the year the Beaver Report on atmospheric pollution was
published and as a result of that report it is likely that new legislation will
be promoted in Parliament to assist local authorities in their work.
Despite serious shortages of Sanitary Inspectors, the whole Borough
was surveyed in a general way for slum clearance purposes. Areas and
streets were divided preliminarily into priority groups and a tentative five
year programme will be discussed with the County Council in due course.
Cases of statutory overcrowding coming to our notice continued to be
notified to the County.