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2 REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1964
from puerperal causes in 1964 as compared with three in the
previous year and this gives a maternal mortality rate of 0.29 per
thousand live and still births.
The total number of cases of infectious disease notified was less
than in the previous year mainly due to the decrease in the number
of measles cases, 1,032 as against 3,427 in 1963. There was also
a diminution in the number of cases of whooping cough, 219 as
against 337 cases. Two cases of typhoid and five of paratyphoid
were confirmed during the year. No confirmed case of poliomyelitis
arose during 1964. The number of cases of tuberculosis of which
we became aware showed a further reduction in 1964, namely, 274
as against 293 in 1963 and 320 in 1962. The number of primary
notifications, however, remained the same, the reduction being due
to fewer transfers from other authorities. The number of deaths
from tuberculosis was the same as in the previous year, namely 25.
I am glad to say that the number of deaths from diseases of the
respiratory system, particularly bronchitis and pneumonia, were
fewer in 1964 compared with 1963. For instance, there were 545
deaths from these diseases in the current year compared with 861
in 1963. The number of deaths from bronchitis was 223 compared
with 377; and from pneumonia, all forms, 283 compared with 414
in 1963. In this connection, I referred in my Report for 1963 to the
effect of the severe winter of 1962/3 and it is probable that the
better mortality figures for the current year reflect the much milder
winter which was experienced.
Full details of the work of the Department will be found in the
body of the Report and need not be mentioned here in detail,
except to say that the work in connection with houses in multiple
occupation has continued and further progress was made under the
Clean Air Act, 1956, towards our objective of making Wandsworth
a complete Smoke Control area by 1970.
For the greater part of the year, but particularly in the latter
half, much time and attention was necessarily given to the problem
raised by the re-organisation of London Local Government. Senior
staff of the Department in particular were involved and it was
necessary to review the work of the Department, to collate information
and statistics and to exchange information with the Metropolitan
Boroughs of Battersea and Lambeth and generally to do
everything to ensure that the change-over of responsibility would be
as smooth as possible. I should like to thank my senior colleagues
for their help in these tasks.
This brings me to the end of my Report for 1964, and the last
Health Report to the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth. Over
the years, the Health Committee through its Health Department
has served the people of Wandsworth well and it is confidently
hoped and expected that this service will continue with no less an
enthusiasm in the future than in the past.