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5
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF STOKE NEWINGTON
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1962
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 1962 on
the health and sanitary circumstances of Stoke Newington.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the civilian population in 1962
was 52,950, being the highest since 1926 when the figure was 53,080. The
number of births allocated to this borough was 1,271 as compared with
1,284 in 1961, thus showing a decrease in the birth rate from 24.61 to
24.00. It will be noted that there was a slight decrease in the illegitimate
birth rate from 15.65 in 1961 to 15.18 in 1962.
Of the six deaths from motor vehicle accidents which occurred during
the year, four were due to pedestrians being struck by cars and two resulted
from collision of vehicles. Deaths from other accidents showed a
decrease as compared with 1961 and involved nine persons. Three cases
were due to accidental poisoning, three persons died as a result of falls
at home and one in the street. Of the remaining two deaths one was from
asphyxia from hanging from a cistern and one from the inhalation of vomit
and alcoholic poisoning.
The total deaths of Stoke Newington residents was 561 indicating a
decrease in the death rate from 10.90 to 10.59. The causes were
Tuberculosis 3; Cancer of all sites ll0; Vascular lesions of Nervous
System 53; Heart Disease 193; Pneumonia 33; Bronchitis 47; Suicides 6;
Accidents 15 and other diseases 101.
Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus totalled 25 as compared
with 34 in 1961.
In connection with smoking and cancer of the lung, a continuous
programme has been carried on throughout the year by the display of
posters which have been changed each month and by the distribution of
informative leaflets from the establishments of the Council to which the
public has access. The primary object of this publicity has been to
bring home to adolescents the dangers of smoking in an effort to try and
persuade them from commencing the habit.
Notifications of Infectious Diseases totalled 436 compared with
1,045 in 1961, the decrease being due to a reduction in the number of
cases of measles.
One case of poliomyelitis occurred during the year and 14 new
cases of respiratory tuberculosis were notified during 1962.