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5.
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF STOKE NEWINGTON
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1961
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 1961 on
the health and sanitary circumstances in Stoke Newington.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the civilian population in 1961
was 52,180, the highest since 1926 when the figure was 53,080. The
number of births allocated to this borough was 1,284 as compared with
1,119 in 1960, thus showing an increase in the birthrate from 22.27 to
24.61. This is the highest birth rate since 1897 when the rate was 24.7.
It will be noted that there was an increase in the illegitimate birth rate
from 11.89 in 1961 to 15.65 in 1962.
There were 4 deaths from motor vehicle accidents during the year, two
of which resulted from collisions of vehicles. The remaining two deaths
were due to pedestrians being struck by cycles. Deaths from other accidents
showed a considerable increase as compared with 1960, and involved
17 persons. Three of these cases resulted from accidental carbon monoxide
poisoning in the home, three persons died when their home caught fire, one
received fatal gunshot wounds, two sustained multiple injuries on the
railways. The remaining eight persons died as a result of falls, drowning
and salicylate poisoning.
The total deaths of Stoke Newington residents was 569 indicating a
decrease in the death rate from 11.33 to 10.90. The causes were Tuberculosis
6; Cancer of all sites 112; Vascular lesions of Nervous System 62;
Heart Disease 156; Pneumonia 30; Bronchitis 47; Suicides 6; Accidents 21
and other diseases 129.
Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus totalled 34 as compared
with 32 in 1960.
For many years past, I have commented on smoking and cancer of the lung
and the advisability of bringing home to the adolescent the dangers of
cigarette smoking. This advice has been re-inforced by the report of the
Royal College of Physicians, and I would reiterate once again that efforts
should be made to dissuade young people from commencing a habit which, once
started, is difficult to relinquish.
Notifications of Infectious Diseases totalled 1,045 as compared with
534 for 1960, the increase being due to the higher number of cases of
measles.
One case of poliomyelitis occurred and was removed to hospital. 45
new cases of respiratory tuberculosis were notified during 1961.
Efforts are continually being made to persuade all those in the
priority groups of the value of protection against poliomyelitis, and I