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5.
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF STOKE NEWINGTON
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1958
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Stoke Newington, N. 16.
To the Mayor Aldermen and Councillors of
the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington.
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year 1958 on
the health and sanitary circumstances in Stoke Newington.
The Registrars-General's estimate of the civilian population in 1958
was 50,480 while the number of births allocated to this Borough was 938
as compared with 898 in 1957, thus showing an increase in the birth rate
from 17,78 to 18.58.
The administration of the Rent Act, 1957 resulted in the issue of
43 Certificates of Disrepair, 13 Certificates of Revocation and the
receipt of 45 Undertakings to execute works being received from landlords.
There were 2 deaths from motor vehicle accidents during the year,
involving a boy aged 4 years and a man of 69 years, both of whom lost
their lives by being struck by motor cars. Deaths due to other accidents
showed an increase of 100% as compared with previous years and involved 16
persons. 7 of these accidents were to persons over the age of 60 years.
A girl of 5½ years died of burns when her nightdress caught alight and a
boy of 11 years died after falling through a roof whilst trespassing.
The seriousness of accidents in the home, especially from burns and
scalds, cannot be stressed too strongly. A moment's thoughtlessness in
leaving a young child alone, even for a short period, in a room where a
fire is not properly and adequately guarded, where boiling saucepans are
within reach of inquisitive fingers, or where matches are accessible, can
lead to tragedy in a family.
The total deaths of Stoke Newington residents was 535 indicating an
increase in the death rate from 9.82 to 10.59. The causes were Tuberculosis
4$ Cancer of all sites 101; Vascular lesions of Nervous System 46$
Heart Diseases 179; Pneumonia 21; Bronchitis 45$ Suicides 6, and other
diseases 133.
There has been no appreciable decrease in the number of deaths from
Cancer of the Lung and the relationship between smoking and lung cancer
cannot be over-emphasized. There seems little reduction in the smoking
habits of the public from which it appears that the extensive advertising
of various brands of cigarettes and tobacco has more influence on the
man-in-the-street than his logical reasoning.