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1
CANonbury 3388
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Islington, N.1.
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OP ISLINGTON.
I have the honour of presenting the Annual Report on the health of the
Metropolitan Borough of Islington for 1958.
The Report for this year includes a considerable number of new health
enactments which, whilst not initiating major changes, collectively constitute
quite material advances which should be advantageous to the health and welfare
of the people in the Borough.
Those important indicators of health changes, the vital statistics, have
on the whole not been quite so favourable as for 1957, although the variations
are minor in themselves.
The general death-rate, the maternal mortality rate, and the infant
mortality rate were all somewhat higher than the previous year and are the
subject of some comment in the Report. The fact that deaths from tuberculosis
of the lungs and the number of new cases found were not lower than the previous
year is an indication that - even though the mortality from this cause is very
much less than a few years ago - in this part of London tuberculosis is still
a major social and health problem; especially as a high proportion of the new
cases are found in what should be the prime of adult life.
In 1957 I had, unfortunately, to record the highest number of deaths, 152.
due to malignant growths of the lung and bronchus, In 1958 this number was
exceeded slightly, with 154 deaths. I mentioned in the Report last year that
the mortality due to bronchitis and pneumonia was well above the national
average. 1958, was not more favourable, and since there is evidence that
pollution of the atmosphere is an important factor in sickness due to these
respiratory diseases, corresponding importance must be attached to steps which
will reduce irritant impurities which are inhaled.
polution
of the
atmosphere
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government gave approval during the year
to two proposed Smoke Control Areas, so that the detailed survey could be
undertaken. This, of course, can only constitute a beginning, and many years
must elapse before major portions of the Borough or the Borough as a whole will
be relieved of visible smoke contamination.
A source of contamination which was not dealt with in the Clean Air Act,
1956, was that due to emissions from petrol and diesel engined road vehicles.
Islington is perhaps unfortunate in that it carries a main trunk route through
almost its entire extent, and there is dense traffic along this road, particularly
of the very heavy diesel engined variety. The Beaver Report of 1954 on Air
pollution expressed the opinion that diesel engined vehicles need not emit smoke
if properly maintained, serviced and driven. Those who have occasion to travel