London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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7
Bidborough House,
38/50 Bidborough Street,
London, W.C.I.
August, 1965.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
London Borough of Camden,
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is the last Annual Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn
which since 1st April 1965 has been incorporated in the new London Borough of Camden.
The report is presented in a similar form to that of recent years so that statistical
comparisons may be made easily.
It is difficult to find any single figure which can be taken as an indication of the health of an area but some figures may be given as an indication of progress (or otherwise) during the past 30 years.
| 1934 | 1964 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,000 | 20,430 |
| Birthrate per 1,000 population | 9.49 | 8.27 |
| Infantile mortality per 1,000 live births | 71.2 | 53.25* |
| Cases of Diphtheria | 74 | Nil |
| Cases of Whooping Cough | 65 | 1 |
| Cases of Tuberculosis | 89 | 15 |
| Deaths from Tuberculosis | 32 | 1 |
*Children who died in Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and who are normally
resident outside England and Wales are attributed to Holborn so that the figure is artificially
high.
Whilst the figures for infectious diseases in particular are very gratifying not all
diseases have responded in the same way. Thirty years ago the classification of diseases
was somewhat different and the actual number of cases of cancer of the lung are not
recorded but during the past 15 years the number of deaths from this disease has increased
by more than 50%.
Progress in other aspects of environmental health can be less easily expressed but
those people who are familiar with the area will appreciate the improvements which have
taken place in housing, in conditions of work and in the services provided, particularly
those for the old people.
I would like to thank the Chairman of the Public Health Committee, Alderman M. P.
Greengross, O.B.E. and the Members of the Committee for their kindness, advice and
assistance at all times.
My thanks are also due to the other Chief Officers and their staffs for their ready
help and to the staff of the Public Health Department for their efficient and loyal service.