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4
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury.
MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to present my annual report on the state of
Public Health in Finsbury for the year 1957 and I am happy to be able
to say that generally the health of our community has remained good.
The birth rate which has steadily increased in the last few years and
is now, after standardization, 18.2 per 1,000 as against 16.1 for the
whole country, may be taken as a sign of mental and physical vitality
in the population. Further satisfaction may be felt in the death
rate which, after standardization, although it increased by one decimal
point to 10.6 remains well below the National figure which has fallen
to 11.5. The only particular condition to which I feel that I ought
to draw attention is Cancer of the Lung. The deaths from this have
been increasing very considerably during recent years throughout the
country, and industrial built up areas including our own Borough have
suffered most. The causation is at present unknown and much research
is being directed to elucidate it, but air pollution and smoking are
almost certainly factors which are, at least in part, concerned.
The year was one of consolidation rather than of development in
the work of my department. The intensive campaign to improve the
hygiene in cafes and restaurants started in the previous year was
continued.
Finsbury still remains in the forefront in the provision of services
for the care of the elderly.
Rapid progress was made by the Council in its preparations for
demolition and redevelopment of its first major slum clearance scheme
since the war in the Galway Street Area and we may therefore confidently
look forward to much improved housing in that area.
I have included some extracts from the recently published decennial
report of the Registrar General. These indicate that in the
years 1950-1952 on which this report is based the death rate for men
was somewhat high compared with that for England & Wales and that for
London even after allowing for age distribution but that infant mortality
was the second lowest in the whole country.
I have continued to enjoy the generous support of you, Mr. Mayor
and that of the Chairman and Members of the Health and other Committees
of the Council and this I have sincerely appreciated. I have
further had as before the loyal help and co-operation of my staff to
whom I wish to convey my thanks.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient Servant
C. 0. S. BLYTH BROOKE.
Medical Officer of Health.