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8
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Pancras Road, N.W. 1.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of St. Pancras.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In accordance with the requirements specified in the Sanitary Officers Order and in
Circular 1269 of the Ministry of Health, I have the honour to present the Annual Report
on the sanitary circumstances, the sanitary administration, and the vital statistics of the
Borough for the year 1932.
This is the 77th Annual Report which has been presented, and the tenth which it has
been my duty to submit to the Members of the Council.
The statistical details acertained at the last census with reference to the population of
the Borough, age and sex distribution, size of families, number of rooms occupied, etc., are
included in this report and will be found in a special appendix on pages 111 to 118.
Although the statistics indicate that a considerable amount of overcrowding still exists,
particularly amongst families occupying only two rooms, it is encouraging to note that at the
1931 census the percentage of the population of the Borough living at a density of more than
two persons per room was 17*6 as compared with a percentage of 22'4 at the previous
census in 1921.
A summary of the principal statistics for the year 1932 is given on pages 10 and 11,
from which it will be noted that a satisfactory standard of Public Health has been maintained.
The birth rate, 13-8 per 1000 of population, shows a considerable decrease as compared
with previous years and is the lowest ever recorded in the Borough.
The death rate was 131 per 1000 of population, as compared with a rate of 13*3 during
the previous year.
The infantile mortality rate was 69 per 1000 births, as compared with a rate of 68 for
the preceding year.
Infectious diseases showed no undue prevalence, with the exception of Measles and
Influenza. An epidemic of the former disease, which usually occurs in the Metropolis every
two years, took place during the period January to June and was responsible for an increase in
the number of deaths amongst young children.
The outbreak of Influenza commenced late in December (1932) and extended for some
time into the following year. The type of illness was not very severe in character, and although
Pneumonia was a frequent complication the death rate was not unduly high. The chief effect
will be evident in the statistics for next year as the epidemic was only just commencing at the
end of the year under review.