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Area comparability factors are, therefore, supplied by the Registrar General
by which the crude birth and death rates of an area are multiplied in order to
render them comparable with the crude rates for England and Wales, and with the
rates of other areas which have been similarly modified with their respective
factors for the purpose.
The factors for St. Pancras are - births 0.88 and deaths 0.99. The adjusted
rates, therefore, are - births 17.10 and deaths 11.05.
Causes of death
The main causes of death of St. Pancras residents are roughly the same as in
recent years, with slight variations up or down, but nothing of any significance.
It is gratifying to note, however, the continued fall in the number of deaths
from tuberculosis. Prom 13 in 1960 to 9 in 1961 is, in itself, of little consequence,
but it is pleasing to reflect that, although from 1924 to 1929 and again
in 1931 the corresponding figure each year was over 200, the years 1932 to 1949
showed a steady decrease, and from 105 in 1949, the figure drops to 76 in 1950.
Infantile deaths in 1961 were 55, being 2 less than in the previous year,
but the rate per 1,000 live births was the same at 24. It is worthy of note that
no less than 47 of these babies died under the age of 4 weeks, and 44 of them
under 1 week.
There were, in addition, 51 still births, the highest number since 1947, and
12 were illegitimate.
In fectious diseases
A table giving the figures of notifications of infectious disease cases since
the year 1931 is included on pages 21 and 22.
It will be noted that measles notifications were highest since 1938, with
the exception of 1951. All other notifications were either down or approximately
the same as in the previous year.
There were 2 cases of diphtheria, however, which is a matter for comment
to-day, though up to immediately prior to the last war the annual figure was
usually between 300 and 400. In 1937 it was as high as 614.
Such is the progress made in the control of this disease that it could be
wiped out, if all children were immunised in infancy and received 'booster'injections
during later childhood.
1 case of smallpox was diagnosed in late December. The patient had only
recently arrived by air from Pakistan Between the 25th December and the end of
the year no less than 191 visits were paid by the Council's Public Health Inspectors
in tracing and maintaining a close watch on contacts, and it will be appreciated
that the amount of other work was considerable. Strenuous efforts were in operation
at the end of the year to avoid the spread of this disease. The man died in the
new year, but no further case developed in the Borough. The incident, however,
served as an effective reminder of the added dangers of this disease, brought
about by the fact that the speed of air travel renders it so possible for a person
to start and complete a world-wide journey within the incubation period,
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