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29
Swimming baths
The following is a summary of samples taken by the health department
staff for submission to the public analyst for examination of
chlorine content and to the Southern Group Laboratory for bacteriological
examination :—
Chlorine Bacteriological
content examination
Bellingham 2 2
Downham 3 2
Ladywell — first class 1 -
— second class 2 -
Forest Hill — first class 1 1
— second class 2 1
Private baths 1 2
A detailed report on the use of' breakpoint chlorination, which is
the method employed at the baths, was included in my annual report
of last year.
Old people
The latest Life Table (abridged) issued by the Registrar-General
early in 1952, relates to the home population of England and Wales in
1950. From this is appears that men, on attaining pensionable age at
65, can look forward to an average of 12 more years of life, subject to
the death probabilities indicated by the 1950 death records remaining
the same. Women, on reaching the age of 60 (which in the case of
women is regarded as the qualifying age for most old people's facilities),
have an average further expectation of life of just over 18 years, subject
to the same probabilities.
These figures underline the fact that with the increasing number
of old people in the population there is large scope for long-term work.
It is interesting to note that the English Life Table based on the 1921
census showed that for women aged 60 the expectation of life was just
over 16 years (compared with just over 18 years now), whereas for men
of 60 the expectation of life was a little over 14 years compared with
slightly over 15 years now. (In passing, since these figures are often
confused in the public mind, I would point out that it is the expectation
of life at birth which has increased so greatly in the last two or three
decades, and not so much the expectation of life at relatively advanced
ages).
The expectation of life at birth, which for males was 49 in 1901,
52 in 1911 and 56 in 1921, has now risen to 66, and the corresponding
figures for females are 52, 55, 60 and 71. These spectacular improvements
have been due to the great success of the efforts made in the
saving of infant and child life — see also the diagrams on page 10.
The Council continued to make grants to organisations in the
borough which are carrying out work for old people, whether by
recreational facilities or by the provision of meals. A sum of £1,750