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2
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
St. Marylebone, W.1
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Marylebone.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The state of the public health in the Borough continued to be maintained at a satisfactory level
throughout the Coronation Year of 1953.
The population, according to the Registrar General's estimate, numbered 73,860, a reduction of
430 on the estimated figure of 74,290 for 1952, and a reduction of 1,904 on the 1951 census figure of
75,764. The death-rate (14.75) again exceeded the birth-rate (12.16), and both rates were lower than
the 1952 figures of 15.27 and 12.49 respectively. The low infant mortality rate of 21.16 compared
favourably with the rate of 24.78 for the previous year.
Notifications of infectious and other diseases decreased from 1,108 (1951) and 846 (1952) to 730,
more than two-thirds of this number being accounted for by measles (429) and whooping cough (71).
There were no deaths from measles, whooping cough or acute poliomyelitis, and again no case of
diphtheria was reported.
The clean food campaign was pursued vigorously in every possible way and received active support
from the St. Marylebone Clean Food Association. Atmospheric pollution received special consideration
and a sub-committee of the Public Health Committee was appointed to go fully into this question.
The local Old People's Welfare Association, working in close collaboration with the Public Health
Department, reported another year of great and expanding activity in various directions.
One of the outstanding public health problems of our time is noise. While this has lessened in
some directions since the beginning of the century, modern life has brought with it other and more
fearful noises. Bye-law control of noise is limited and, generally speaking, it is necessary to prove
injury to health—usually an extremely difficult matter. There is room for further research into
the whole question and a need for more effective legislation against the creation of unnecessary and
avoidable noise.
A reminder of the pioneer work carried out in St. Marylebone in connection with maternity and
child welfare was given by the award to the Borough of the Astor Silver Challenge Shield by the National
Baby Welfare Council.
The weather of 1953 set up new records. The outstanding incident was the great gale on the night
of 31st January, which caused flooding along the east coast of England with the loss of several hundred
lives. The first three months were noteworthy for a prolonged dry spell, including the longest absolute
drought in London, so early in the year, since 1893. The sunshine total of 1,586 hours exceeded the
average by 126 hours, and it was the sixth year in succession with more than the average. June was
a relatively poor month, and the day after Coronation Day was the coldest June day since before
1815, except for one in 1909. After three years with more than average rainfall, the total of 19.7
inches in 1953 was 4.2 inches below the average. The month of December was the mildest since that
of 1934.
My thanks are due to His Worship the Mayor, and to the Chairman (Councillor Herbert C. Garrard)
and members of the Public Health Committee for the consideration and encouragement they gave
me during the year; to my colleagues in other Departments of the Council for their co-operation
and assistance; and to the staff of the Public Health Department for their continued loyalty and
efficient support in the public health work of the Borough.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
H. A. BULMAN,
Medical Officer of Health.