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To the Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury.
MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
This is the last occasion on which a Medical Officer of Health has
the honour to present to you, Mr. Mayor, and your Council, an Annual
report on the Health of the Borough of Finsbury, which we in our several
capacities have been proud to serve, as by the time the next report
for 1964 can be prepared your functions will be superseded by those of
the Council of the London Borough of Islington.
In presenting this report therefore, it is fitting that I should
refer to the many changes and the vast improvement in Public Health
which have taken place since the formation of the Borough in 1900.
Indeed a revolution has occurred in the physical and social environment,
and this has been reflected in the lives and characters of those
living or working in the district. Although national and economic
changes together with the devastation due to the Second World War have
played their part in bringing this about, much credit belongs without
doubt to the farseeing policies initiated and pursued with vigour by
the Pinsbury Borough Council.
I have included a statement of some of the Principal Developments
of the Public Health Service by the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury
1901-1965. I have also included a comparison of some of the main
features of the first annual report of the Medical Officer of Health
for Finsbury, namely that for 1900, with the corresponding details for
1963 where possible.
This latter year was somewhat uneventful but allowed of further
consolidation of the work of the Public Health Department. The general
health of the population remained good and apart from an extensive outbreak
of a mild form of Dysentery, there was no unusual incidence of
disease.
The birth rate has again fallen slightly to 15.0 and is well below
the national average. The illegitimate birthrate rose to 8.4 per cent
of the total births having been below 7.4 in recent years and this
gives rise to concern regarding infant welfare and social circumstances.
The infant mortality rate fell to the phenomenally low level of
10.9 as against the rate of 20.9 for England and Wales. This is particularly
happy as the rate for the last two years had been high, although
previously between 15 and 16; also there were no illegitimate infant
deaths.
The death rate was 13.9 which was above the national rate of 12.2
and represents a slight rise on the rate for the previous year, and
appears rather more than might have been expected due to an unexpected
rise in the loading factor to balance the age constitution of the
population introduced by the Registrar-general.
There was a further slight increase in the number of deaths from
cancer including those from lung cancer, and also from coronary
diseases. On the other hand there was a fall in the number of deaths
from Bronchitis and Pneumonia and from Cerebral embolism and thrombosis.
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