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public Health Department,
Ponlar Town Hall, Bow Boad, E.3.
6th July, 1945.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar.
Madam, Indies and Gentlemen,
It falls to me to present my first annual
report as Acting Medical Officer of Health owing; to the unfortunate
retirement of Dr.. W. Allan Ybung, Medical Officer'of Health in July,1940
In accordance with the Ministry of Health Circular 49/45
(England) this report is, like the reports for the years 1939-43, an
abridged Interim Report.
How that the ban ofl the publication 'of population figures
has been removed It is possible to give some statistics which had
hitherto been withhold, and on page 2 will be found a summary of
statistics for the years 1938 to 1944, The higher death rates in
the years from 1940 onwards are partly accounted for by the inclusion
of deaths due to enemy action, particularly in 1940, 1941 and 1944,
Population. The Registrar-GeneralTs estimate of the civil population
is 54,030, the highest for several years.
Births. There was a slight decrease in the number of but the b'irth rate (30.7) was the seoond highest since 1926.
Deaths. The number of deaths at all ages was 891, somewhat less than
the figure for 1943, and the death rate of 16.5 is below the average
for the preceding five years.
Of the 891 deaths no fewer than 123 were of people over 80
years of age, and of these 11 were over 90 years old.
Once again there were no deaths from Scarlet fever and, for
the first time on record, no doaths from Diphtheria. Nor were there
any deaths from Measles.
Materna1 Mortality. There were four deaths from Puerperal causes.
The death ratd per 1,000 total births was 3.49 which is rather above
the average for the previous five years.
Infant Mortality. The infant mortality rate was 41, slightly above
the five years average, but a satisfactory figure when compared with
the London figure of 61.
Infectious Disease. Infectious diseaso gensrally was much loss
prevalent.
Tuberculosis. The number of ndw cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (147)
was slightly loss than in 1943. The death rate from this cause,
however, showed a slight increase on the preceding year but w^e below
tho five years average.
Influenza. An opidemic of Influenza which started in the late months
of 1943 continued into 1944 but did not reach such proportions as to
call for special action. The number of doaths from influenza was 8.
Staff . Following upon the retirement of Dr. Young, I was appointed
Acting Medical Officer of Health and Dr. L. D. Richards was appointed
Acting Tuberculosis Officer and Acting Deputy Mcclical Officer of
Health.
It is with regret I have to record tho death of Mr. E. A. May,
Sanitary Inspector, who had also been acting as vaccination Officer.
Mr. G. L. Bolshaw, Sanitary Inspector, was appointed acting
Vaccination Officer in addition to his normal duties. Mr. T.C.B.Rose,