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3
To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the Annual Report of the
Medical Officer of Health for 1959.
Vital Statistics
The Registrar General has estimated a reduction of 2,000 in
the mid-year population of the Borough, as compared with 5,000
last year.
Unhappily the illegitimate birth rate remains high, thus 18 per
cent. of the live births in the Borough were illegitimate.
In previous years councillors expressed their concern at the
high number of deaths from suicide which occur each year. An
attempt has neen made in the body of the Report to analyse these
figures.
Infectious Disease
I am pleased to report that the incidence of infectious disease
in the Borough remained low throughout the year. Unhappily,
however, the Ministry of Health, during the year under review,
found it necessary to draw the attention of local authorities to the
increasing incidence of gonorrhoea.
Nearly 10,000 persons were immunised against poliomyelitis
during 1959
Water Supply.
Dr. Windle Taylor, the Director of Water Examination of the
Metropolitan Water Board has been good enough to send me a
brief report on his department as it affects the health and safety of
the residents of this Borough. Perhaps one is inclined to take for
granted the detailed investigation which is carried on unceasingly
to protect our water supplies. The importance of this work cannot
be over estimated.
Smoke Control Areas
Most satisfactory progress has been made by the department in
this important aspect of our work. At the request of the Minister
a phased programme has been made, and it is hoped that by 1968
the whole Borough will be covered by a series of Smoke Control
Orders.
Considerable time and attention has also been devoted to the
examination, and approval where appropriate, of applications in
respect of the installation of industrial or domestic furnaces with
a heating capacity of 55,000 or more B.T.Us. per hour.
Care of the Aged
In the report I have listed the numerous services which are
available in this Borough to this section of the community. There
continues to be a close liaison between the voluntary bodies and the
officers of your Council engaged on these activities.