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There were 5,587 notifications of whooping cough during the year compared with
10,488 in 195] and 10,875 in 1950. The two latter years were covered by one continuous
epidemic with its peak at the turn of 1950-51. In contrast, 1952 was a year of
light incidence. During the year there were nine deaths, giving a death-rate of 0.003
per 1,000, and a crude case mortality of 0.16 per cent. The corresponding rates for the
previous two years were:
Whooping
cough
1950—Death-rate 0.009 per 1,000, case mortality 0.28 per cent.
1951—Death-rate 0.006 per 1,000, case mortality 0.20 per cent.
Table 15 shows that during 1952 the notifications of whooping cough were fairly
evenly spread over the year. It is seen from Table 3 that the fatality from this disease,
which has been declining since the end of the last century, has fallen with dramatic
rapidity in more recent times.
The numbers of cases or various infectious diseases reported frorn schools in 1952
and previous years is shown in Table 13 (page 181).
! Infectious
diseases
in schools
GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
Housing
during the year 13,162 houses and flats were erected by the Council and/or the
metropolitan borough councils. Of these 7,318 were in London (2,922 by the Council
and 4,396 by the borough councils) and the remainder (5,844) were erected by the
Council outside the London area.
The total number of houses or flats owned by the Council at 31st December, 1952
was 154,511 (an increase in the year of 8,710) of which 74,314 are situated in London
and 80,197 outside the county.
The number of applications registered on the Council's housing waiting list on
31st December, 1952, was 180,366 compared with 171,567 in 1951. Approximatel34,000
new applications were registered during the year. The housing waiting list is
divided into three categories in accordance with urgency on the basis of the total number
of points awarded under the Council's points scheme as follows :
Category A—Urgent cases.
Category B—Cases with some housing need, but not of an urgent character.
Category C—No basic housing need.
Preferential
rehousing
During the year 37,748 requests for preference in rehousing on health grounds were
considered, and suitable recommendations made to the Director of Housing and Valuer.
This figure includes a number of applications which had been considered in previous
years but were reviewed in the light of changed medical or domestic conditions. The
number of new applications considered was some 3,000 less than in 1951. The continuing
large number of applications on health grounds is no doubt largely attributable to the
natural anxiety of applicants to put forward any claims which might possibly lead to
prospects of early rehousing. Inevitably many have to be disappointed, but all applications
are carefully considered and many enquiries are made to enable fair decisions to be
reached. Once again, the great assistance given by medical officers of health of metropolitan
boroughs and out-county authorities, of hospitals and of family doctors in
providing reports is gratefully acknowledged. Of the applications considered on general
health grounds, 4 per cent. (1,590) were recommended for special preference because
rehousing was urgently necessary to reduce the danger of infection arising from inadequate
accommodation for persons suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis,
13 per cent. were classified as 'most urgen', and 34 per cent. as less urgent but justifying
preference on health grounds. After careful consideration, it was decided that the degree
of medical urgency disclosed by doctors' certificates did not warrant additional preference
for the remaining 49 per cent.