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METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
WALWORTH ROAD, S.E.17.
Telephone: RODNEY 5464
To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark.
YOUR WORSHIP, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report of the Medical
Officer of Health for the year 1959.
Vital Statistics
The Registrar General's estimate of the population resident in
the Metropolitan Borough at mid-year 1959 was 88,720, which is 1,200
less than the estimated population at mid-year 1958, and 8,471 less
than the census figure in 1951 which was 97,191. The birth rate, after
adjustment by the comparability factor, was 15.3 as compared with 16.5
for England and Wales. There were 1,211 deaths giving an adjusted
death rate of 11.5 compared with 10.2 last year, and 11.6 for the
country as a whole. Of the 43 infant deaths 25 occurred during the
first four weeks of life. The infant mortality rate was 28.2 compared
with 26.7 last year and 22.0 for England and Wales. The still birth
rate which in 1958 was 20.1, was reduced to 18 and was lower than the
figure for England and Wales which was 20.7. There were no maternal
deaths during the year.
The principal causes of death during 1959 were diseases of the
heart and circulatory system, followed by diseases of the respiratory
system and malignant diseases each of the two latter being responsible
for almost the same number of deaths. There was once again a reduction
in the number of deaths from tuberculosis which now form only one per
cent of the total deaths compared with almost five per cent ten years
ago. Pulmonary tuberculosis caused 11 deaths whereas motor vehicle
accidents and all other accidents caused 16 and 19 deaths respectively.
Infectious Diseases
In my report last year, attention was drawn to the importance of
children being protected against those infectious diseases, namely