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6
In regard to deaths at other age periods, the largest single causes of
death in 1901 were tuberculosis and bronchitis. Thanks to the work
undertaken during recent years in the early detection of tuberculosis, and
the efficiency of modern drugs, tuberculosis is no longer a major cause of
death. Today, the largest single cause of death is coronary disease and
angina.
In 1901 an epidemic of smallpox existed in this country and a total
of 85 cases occurred in Westminster; 17 persons died, a mortality of
20 per cent. Now, due to many years of vaccination against this disease,
smallpox is no longer rife in this country. Constant vigilance is, however,
still necessary to ensure that no cases are imported from areas abroad
where the disease is still prevalent, particularly in these times of high
speed travel.
At the beginning of this century, there were many cases of diphtheria
in Westminster with 21 deaths; enteric or typhoid fever, with 20 deaths;
and whooping cough with 48 deaths. It is now several years since there
was a case of diphtheria in Westminster and in 1964 there were no deaths
from any of these diseases in the area of the City. Some of this improvement
must be attributed to advances which have been made in curative
medicine, but much has been accomplished by preventive medicine
combined with improved standards of living.
Much progress has been made over the years in safeguarding the
public food supplies. In the early 1900's there was much gross and
deliberate adulteration of food; today this is rare.
In 1901, the prevention of smoke engaged the earnest attention of
the Public Health Committee. The year 1965 sees the completion of the
City Council's programme for the declaration of Smoke Control Areas
under the Clean Air Act; by July 1965, the whole of the area of the
(old) City of Westminster was covered by operative Smoke Control Orders.
This is no mean achievement when it is remembered that the Clean
Air Act only came into operation in 1956.
The wide and varied duties performed by the public health inspectors
are dealt with in detail in the Report. Their work was undertaken with
considerable difficulty during 1964, owing to the constant changes in staff
and the general shortage of inspectors. At the end of the year no fewer
than 10 posts of public health inspector were unfilled out of an establishment
of twenty-six. This problem is not confined to Westminster, but
is common throughout London, and it imposes strain on the remaining
staff.
Notwithstanding the difficulties of the past year, much good work
has been undertaken by the staff of the Health Department in the many
and varied duties which are set out in the Report. To all the members
of the staff I express my sincere thanks for their unfailing support and
loyalty; and to my colleagues in other Departments my appreciation
of their co-operation and help.