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Town Hall,
Hammersmith, w. 6.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councilors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Hammer smith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladles and Gentlemen,
I Have the honour to present to you my Annual Report on the
health and sanitary circumstances of the Borough for the year
1955. Once again, I regret that it was not possible to publish it
in the earlier months of the year, as the Registrar General's figures
required to calculate the various statistics were not available
sooner.
As in 1954 we have again had a good year and infectious disease
has not been a serious problem.
Poliomyelitis increased but no deaths resulted. The proportion
of cases with residual paralysis was somewhat high, but out
of a total of 35 cases only 12 had crippling after effects in varying
degrees.
We had a large Measles epidemic during February, March and
April but here also no deaths occurred.
It is always fascinating to compare the ups and downs of good
and bad years so I have made up the following credit and debit
account. It illustrates how we have in some directions improved our
records whilst in others there has been a deterioration.
CREDIT:
1. Fewer new cases of Tuberculosis, a record low number.
2. Lowest number of deaths from Tuberculosis on record.
3. No cases of, or deaths from, Diphtheria.
4. continued increase of Births over Deaths.
5. Decrease in the number of food samples found to be unfit.
6. More people have benefitted from the Health Laundry.
7. Lowest number of cases of verminous condition ever treated.
8. First creche in Hammersmith opened in Glenthorne Road.
9. Decrease in the number of cases of Scabies.
DEBIT:
1. Increase in the number of cases of Poliomyelitis, and of
serious cases.
2. Increase in the number of cases of Measles.
3. Increase in the total number of deaths.
4. Increase in the Infant Mortality rate.
5. Increase in the number of deaths from cancer (all causes).
6. Increase nn the death rate from Bronchitis from 66 to 99
per 100,000 of the population.
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