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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
St. Marylebone, W.l.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Marylebone.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The standard of health in the Borough throughout 1955 may be regarded as satisfactory although
there was greater incidence of infectious disease. This was general throughout the country and in
St. Marylebone notifications increased from the previous year's low record of 319 to 924. Of these,
588 were measles, a disease which is in special evidence in cycles of two years. Among diseases which
also increased in incidence were poliomyelitis (from 3 to 14), tuberculosis (from 66 to 77), erysipelas
(from 1 to 8). There were 117 cases of food poisoning as against 13 notified in 1954. These included
one outbreak of 56 cases at an institution and another of 38 at a hospital where those affected were
mainly members of the staff. There were 2 notifications each of typhoid and paratyphoid fever but
it was established that 3 of these patients contracted the disease abroad. Again no diphtheria was
reported—the last was in 1948—and the 18 cases of scarlet fever were all of a mild type. There
were no deaths from notifiable diseases other than tuberculosis and pneumonia.
The resident population, according to the estimate of the Registrar General, decreased from 73,930 to
73,440 but, although no figures are available, there are indications that the very large day population
of the Borough is still tending to increase. Both the birth rate (11.02) and the death rate (15.51) were
less favourable than in 1954 (11.59 and 14.27 respectively), but there was no maternal mortality and
deaths of children under 1 year of age decreased from 27 to 12, giving a record low figure for the
Borough of 14.83 per thousand live births.
The weather was mainly dry and sunny except in June, which was especially dull, and May when it
was unusually wet. Of all the Saturdays from April to November, on only four was there any measureable
rainfall in central London. August was the hottest month although the highest temperatures
of the year were reached during July. The coldest month was February but the lowest temperature
at Kew was in March when -4.6°F. was recorded. Rainfall was only about four-fifths of the normal
and there was a noteworthy freedom from fog. Thunder was rather more prevalent than usual.
To His Worship The Mayor, to the Chairman, Councillor Dr. H. K. Ashworth, T.D., and to
members of the Public Health Committee I offer my thanks for the kindness, consideration and
encouragement which they have always given me. I thank also the staff of the Public Health
Department for their loyalty and efficient support in the public health work of the Borough, and
my colleagues in other departments of the Council for their continued co-operation and assistance.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
H. A. BULMAN,
Medical Officer of Health.