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6
Public Health Department
Town Hall, Greenwich, S.E.10.
August, 1958.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report on the health
and environmental circumstances of Greenwich for 1957.
There was an increase in the population of 130, which reversed
a trend which had been apparent for the last few years. The birth
rate was down and there was a decrease also in the death rate. The
Infantile Mortality rate of 36 is an increase of 16 over last year and
is the highest for some time. It is accounted for primarily by a
preponderance of neo-natal deaths, the majority of which occurred
in the first week and were due to prematurity. I have stressed in
past reports the unreliability of placing too much emphasis on yearly
statistical variations when comparatively small numbers are involved,
but the very large number of deaths due to prematurity
emphasizes once again the prime importance of adequate ante-natal
care and supervision. Until the precise cause or causes of premature
birth are completely understood, strict attention to the routine
management of the pregnant woman remains the best preventive
measure against prematurity.
For the first time for four years there was a maternal death, which
was the subject of a Coroner's inquest, but the circumstances were
so unusual that it had no public health significance.
Turning to causes of death, tuberculosis deaths are down by 6,
but cancer deaths remain the same although lung cancer decreased
by 12. Stomach cancer and other forms increased by a similar
amount. Deaths from acute primary and influenzal pneumonia
increased by 14, a result of the minor influenza epidemic which
affected the whole country in the latter part of the year.
There was very little dysentery in the Borough and this saved
the Department much laborious routine work ; on the other hand,
measles was very prevalent with 1,194 notifications.