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2
Public Health Department,
33, Lancaster Grove,
Hampstead, N.W.3.
25th June, 1952.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in submitting to you the Annual Report on the
health of the residents of Hampstead for the year 1951.
During this year, according to the Registrar General's estimate, the
population had risen to 97,750, i.e., 350 more than the previous year.
On the other hand the population as indicated by the preliminary figures
resulting from the Census which took place in 1951 is 95,073.
The Infantile Mortality Rate for the year was 27 per 1,000 births.
Although this figure is lower than that for the country as a whole, it is
slightly above the figure for London itself, and compares unfavourably
with the figure of 19 last year. The total number of births was 1,414
and in fact 38 children died before they reached the age of 1 year. In
12 cases the underlying cause of death was prematurity, 7 babies died of
broncho pneumonia and in another 4 cases a congenital defect caused
the death. It will be obvious that individual factors affect the mortality
rate very considerably when it is based on such small numbers.
In November the Council was informed of the death of Dr. Cox who
had been Hampstead's Public Analyst for over 25 years. Dr. Cox had
achieved the highest reputation and the Council, in paying tribute to the
services he had rendered to the Borough, regretted the loss of so distinguished
a member of the staff. Mr. E. Voelcker has been appointed to
fill the post temporarily.
1,782 notifications of infectious disease were received during the
year and in 188 cases the patient was removed to hospital. These
notifications include 74 of pneumonia and of these 4 patients died. One
child died of whooping cough and one of measles. There was a mild
epidemic of measles during the year, the notifications being 1,187 as
compared with 588 in 1950. Only 2 cases of poliomyelitis were notified
and in both of these paralysis was one of the symptoms. Scarlet fever
accounted for 70 notifications and 21 of these cases were removed to
hospital. The disease showed no tendency to assume the severity
associated with it in previous years.
At the end of the year the register of tuberculosis contained 875
names. At the time of writing this report an investigation is being
made, following upon a visit or information otherwise obtained, concerning
every notified case. It has already become apparent that many
of the names on the register were of persons who have left the district
and I hope very shortly to be able to give a truer picture of the situation
as it exists in the Borough. Tuberculosis still remains the major endemic
disease of importance in this country, causing prolonged illness and