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REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE CITY OF LONDON FOR THE YEAR 1957.
To the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commoners of the Corporation of London.
Guildhall,
e.c.2.
April. 1958.
My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of my Department during the year
1957.
Vital Statistics
The resident population of the City according to the Registrar General's estimate at midyear
1957 was 5,100.
The birth rate dropped to 5.93 per thousand resident population and the death rate to 10.60
per thousand resident population, as compared with 7.56 and 13.19 per thousand respectively in
1956. As I have observed year by year the vital statistics of the City cannot be usefully compared
either with those of other areas or even with those of previous years because the numbers
on which the rates are calculated are so small.
There were 34 live births, two of which were of female twins born prematurely, both of whom
died a few hours after birth. One male child died four weeks after birth from pneumonia consequent
upon fibro-cystic disease of the pancreas. There were no deaths attributable to pregnancy
or childbirth.
The total number of deaths was 53, 37 male and 16 female. Only the deaths of the 3 infants,
1 male child between 1 and 5 years of age and 1 female between 15 and 25 years old occurred in
the age groups 0—25 years old. 5 were between 25 — 45; 17 between 45 — 65; 18 between 65 — 75;
and 8 were 75 years old or more. One death was due to syphilitic disease; 9 were due to cancer,
two of which were cancer of the lung. There were 20 deaths due to disease of the heart or
blood vessels, 4 to pneumonia and 3 to bronchitis. One man, aged between 25 and 45, was
killed in a motor accident. One man, aged 70, died as a result of a fall whilst going upstairs,
and another, aged 75, was found drowned in the River Thames. One woman, aged 40, committed
suicide by means of domestic coal gas.
Infectious Diseases
One case of paralytic poliomyelitis and 2 cases of non-paralytic poliomyelitis were notified.
The paralytic patient was a boy aged 2½ years, and the non-paralytic patients were boys aged
6 and 2 years respectively.
One case of malaria was notified in the person of a man who normally travels from country
to country and was temporarily visiting England.
There were 6 cases of Sonne dysentery and 8 cases of puerperal pyrexia. 5 notifications of
pulmonary tuberculosis, 19 of measles and 2 of scarlet fever were received. No cases of whooping
cough or pneumonia were notified during the year.
Food Poisoning
Appended is a copy of the annual return made to the Minister of Health on food poisoning in
the City of London during the year ended 31st December, 1957.
The most serious outbreak — due to staphylococcal poisoning — occurred among the staff of
a Government department in the City. The number of persons at risk was approximately 400.
Of this number, 23 suffered severely from vomiting, stomach pains and diarrhoea, and 13 were
detained in hospital.
The enquiries made and the results obtained from bacteriological examinations furnished
strong evidence that the cause of the illness was restricted to one large tin of processed peas.
The source of supply of the peas was traced through the distributors to a cannery in the provinces,
but although a number of unopened tins were examined, physically and bacteriologically,
the results were negative.
No evidence was obtained to suggest that either the kitchen staff or the hygienic arrangements
of the kitchen were at fault.
2.