View report page

6
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Greenwich, S.E.10
October, 1952
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present this report on the state of public health in
Greenwich for 1951. It is a report of more modest proportions
than last year, the Jubilee year, since the occasion is perhaps less
auspicious and special features were included in that year as a
permanent record of the past work of the Health Department.
The estimated mid-year population was 89,390, a decrease of
180 on last year's figure. The birth rate at 15.61 shows a fall of
1.56 but the death and infantile mortality rates are substantially
better than the average for London and for England and Wales.
The infantile mortality at 21.46 is the lowest ever recorded in Greenwich
and surpasses the previous record of 24 in 1949. It is significant
to record that over 65% of the infant deaths were neo-natal
occurring within the first week of birth. The maternal mortality
rate was 2.88 as compared with a Nil return last yeai. However,
when comparatively small numbers are involved this figure will
fluctuate over a wide range with one or two deaths. There were
in effect 4 maternal deaths in Greenwich.
The total number of infectious diseases notified to us was
2,266, an increase of approximately 40% over 1950 mainly due to
the higher incidence of Measles. There were 1,482 cases of Measles
which total was more than 50% higher than last year. The higher
incidence was already manifesting itself at the latter part of 1950
and reached a peak figure in January this year. Whooping Cough
increased from 309 to 388 cases. On the other hand Scarlet Fever
was less prevalent and I am glad to report that there were no
confirmed cases of Poliomyelitis. A minor epidemic of Sonne
Dysentery was a notable feature of the year and I have enlarged on
our investigations in the appropriate section of the report. For
the first time in the history of the Borough it is my pleasure to be
able to record that no case of Diphtheria occurred during the year.
Deaths from Tuberculosis declined from 44 to 35 and the rate has
fallen from 0.49 to 0.39. This is primarily due to the efficacy of
modern treatment methods. The number of notifications of new
cases, however, does not show a corresponding fall. Notifications
have increased from 145 to 149.