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One maternal death following a surgical operation was recorded. Of
the causes of death at all ages those of the heart and blood vessels claimed
the most, 381, and those mainly above 65 years of age. Deaths from
malignant disease were next at 203 and likewise occurred chiefly among
those over 65 years.
As regards infectious disease, no outbreaks of any importance
occurred. In 1948 the biennial incidence of measles was expected and
376 cases were notified, less than half the numbers which used to be
recorded in the "measles" years before the war. There was one death
of an infant under 1 year from measles. Although there was an increase
in the notified cases of whooping cough, 184 as compared with 178, there
were no deaths. The number of cases of poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
notified was 16 compared with 21 in 1947 when so many cases
occurred elsewhere in the country. During 1948 the cases occurred as
in 1947 in the late summer and autumn. The fall in the incidence of
diphtheria in the country generally is a signal triumph for immunization.
In Westminster the number had fallen from 16 in 1947 to 8 in 1948,
but there were 3 deaths of persons who had never been immunized.
Gastro-enteritis caused 14 deaths all of them among children up to
5 years of age. The nature of this infection, so dangerous to child life,
and its prevention remain the subject of constant investigation by the
Medical Research Council and other bodies.
In 1945 your Medical Officer of Health was invited by the Secretary
of State for Home Affairs, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, to
serve on a Committee to be presided over by Sir Ernest Gowers. The
Reference to the Committee was as follows:—
"(1) To enquire into the provisions of the Shops Act relating
to closing hours (general or local) and to report as soon as possible
whether any alterations are desirable.
(2) To enquire into and make recommendations as to extending,
strengthening or modifying:—
(a) the statutory provisions relating to the health, welfare
and safety of employed persons at places of employment other
than those regulated under the Factories or Mines and Quarries
Acts, and
(b) the statutory regulations of the hours of employment
of young persons.
(3) To enquire into and make recommendations as to the
machinery for enforcing statutory provisions within the scope of (1)
and (2) above."
The City Council gave its consent to his joining the Committee.
Having held 55 meetings between January, 1946, and January, 1949,
the Committee issued its report in March, 1949. In this report, which
covers a wide field, two points seem of special interest to the City Council