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7
VITAL STATISTICS
The population of the Borough of Lambeth at the mid year 1953
has been estimated by the Registrar-General to be 229,000 which
is 1,000 less than the estimated population in 1952. The natural
increase by births over deaths was 1,241.
The following table shows the actual numbers and the percentages
of deaths in various age groups and no less than 39.16% of all
deaths were in the age group 75 years and over. With the increasing
expectation of life the problem of the aged, how to care for them
or rather how best to assist them to take care of themselves is
becoming more difficult each year. The Council could do a great
deal to improve the lot of old people who so often suffer from
the neglect of their children, but the Council are barred by
statute from doing anything except making donations to voluntary
bodies. It was hoped that by the end of the year there would have
been at least three chiropody clinics each holding two sessions
a week but there is still only the one clinic. This is working
to capacity so that newcomers can only be accepted on the comparatively
rare occasions when vacancies occur, usually from death.
It is so important that nothing should be left undone which will
improve the mobility of the aging and corns and the like are known
to be such a great hindrance to getting about.
All Ages 0-1 1-5 5-15 15-25 25-45 45-65 65-75 75 & over
2408 93 15 10 18 118 559 652 943
100% 3.86 0.62 0.42 0.75 4.90 23.21 27.08 39.16
The principal causes of death were heart disease 717 (877) or
29.78 per cent. (31.06) of the total deaths, cancer 426 (497) or
17.69 per cent. (17.60), and influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia,
three causes of death largely dependent upon the weather, were the
cause of 409 (428) deaths or 16.99 (15.16) per cent.
During the year the number of live births corrected by inward
or outward transfers was 3,649, giving a corrected birth rate of
15.93 compared with 15.75 in 1952, an increase of 0.18 per 1,000
population.
Deaths from cancer of the lungs have fallen this year again.
Deaths from tuberculosis of the lungs continue to fall with modern
treatment but much less improvement is noticeable in the incidence.
The disease is attacking almost as many as ever. It is often
forgotten that it is infectious and that overcrowding due to
inadequate housing is a potent cause of spread.