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4
The shortage of qualified Sanitary Inspectors is general throughout
the Country, and all local authorities are finding it increasingly
difficult to fill vacant posts. This fact is having serious repercussions,
as only the more important items of Sanitary Inspection can
be carried out, and at the present time, there appears to be little
likelihood of the position of the supply of Sanitary Inspectors being
remedied.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the civilian population in 1954
was 51,260 as compared with 51,250 in 1953, while the number of births
allocated to Stoke Newington in 1954 was 812 as compared with 753 in 1953,
thus showing an increase in the birth rate from 14.69 to 15.84.
The number of deaths of children under one year of age was 15 as
compared with 18 in 1953, showing a decrease in the death rate from 23.90
to 18.47. The rate for England and Wales was 25.5. The causes of death
were Pneumonia 1, Congenital Malformations 3, Bronchitis 1, and Other
Causes 10. Of these 15 deaths, 3 occurred in the first 24 hours of life
and 10 in the first month of life.
Deaths from Motor Vehicle Accidents were 2. These involved a man
between the age groups of 45 and 65 and a woman over 75. This is an
increase of one death over the previous year and the third successive
year in which no young children were involved in fatal accidents.
Deaths due to other accidents totalled 8 and showed an increase of 3
over the previous year. 3 males and 5 females were involved, and deaths
were caused from fractures after having fallen, after being knocked down by
a motor cycle and from drowning.
Suicides totalled 4 and involved 1 male and 3 females.
Deaths of Stoke Newington residents totalled 505 as compared with 503
in 1953 and the death rate increased very slightly from 9.81 to 9.85. The
causes of death were Tuberculosis 7, Syphilitic Diseases 1, Cancer 90,
Vascular Lesions of Nervous System 61, Heart Diseases 154, Pneumonia 19,
Bronchitis 44, Motor Vehicle Accidents 2, Suicides 4 and Other Diseases 123.
Once again it is to be noted that the number of deaths from Pulmonary
Tuberculosis is decreasing. The number of deaths from Cancer of the Lung
was 23 this figure being the same as that for 1953. The deaths in 1954 from
Pulmonary Tuberculosis were 6 as compared with 11 in 1953.
It will be remembered that during the year a public statement was made
regarding the association of smoking with Lung Cancer. The public should
appreciate the fact that there is every indication that there is an
association between smoking particularly cigarettes and the incidence of
Cancer of the Lung.
Notifications of Infectious Diseases showed a marked decrease over the
figure for 1953. 472 notifications were received as compared with 1251 for