View report page

7
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
High Holborn, W.C.I.
August, 1963.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Holborn,
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The report of the 1961 Census shows that the population of the borough on the
night of the Census was 22,008. Thus during the preceding ten years the population
decreased annually by 1.19 per cent. Between 1931 and 1951 however, the annual
decrease has been much greater—2.22 per cent. A small part of this decrease was caused
by an excess of deaths over births, but the major part was due to migration from the
borough. During the past ten years also, the proportion of children under the age of 15
has decreased from 13.3 per cent, to 12.1 per cent, while the proportion of people over
65 has increased from 10.5 per cent. to 12.1 per cent. These changes in population are
not restricted to Holborn, and their causes are many and varied. Although the movement
of people away from city centres has many unfortunate consequences, life in such centres
has special limitations and dangers, particularly for the very old and the very young.
The concentration of road traffic and the density of building in particular impose unnatural
stresses on residents.
The birth rate for the borough is lower and the death rate higher than for many years,
but these rates are calculated from such relatively small numbers that variations from
year to year mean very little. Diseases of the heart and circulatory system were again
the commonest causes of death. Cancers were the next most common cause and they
were most frequently located in the lung.
Only two Holborn infants died before the age of one year; they were twins born
prematurely. There were no illegitimate infant deaths. There has been no maternal
deaths since 1953.
During the opening weeks of the year many smallpox contacts were kept under
surveillance, but no case occurred in the borough. Consequent upon the spate of vaccinations
which were performed at this time, a case of post vaccinial encephalitis was
reported. Fortunately the illness was mild and had no serious effects.
Two unrelated cases of poliomyelitis were notified. The first was admitted during
the acute stage of his illness to a private room in a general hospital in the borough. As
a precaution all the nursing staff were given oral poliomyelitis vaccine. The other patient
suffered a mild non-paralytic illness.
There was no case of diphtheria.
There were few notifications of dysentery or food poisoning. A small outbreak
of dysentery in a day nursery was quickly contained.
The number of new notifications of tuberculosis received during the year was the
smallest ever. Four of the sixteen cases were residents of a common lodging house.
The men who choose to live in this institution should receive much closer medical supervision,
but because of their unsettled way of life and independence of mind this is difficult
to achieve. General medical services are available and the Mass X-ray unit makes a
yearly visit there, but the response is poor.
On December 1st the sixth and last smoke control order came into operation, thus
finishing the programme started by Dr. Struthers in 1957. The early completion of the
scheme was the result of much hard work by the staff, the ready co-operation of government
departments and the enthusiasm of the Council. The occasion was marked by a press
conference attended by Sir Keith Joseph on December 3rd.