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INTRODUCTION.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
I HAVE the honour to present a report on the health of the Borough
during 1954.
The Infantile Mortality rate has returned to a figure more nearly
approaching the average. The figure is still less than for England and
Wales, and compared with the previous reports, the rate is intermediate
in position under the heading of the table of comparative Vital Statistics,
The increase in deaths has occurred among babies of less than a week old,
and in 11 out of 12 instances, was attributed to ante-natal or intra-natal
conditions including 5 cases of prematurity.
For the second successive year there were no deaths of mothers in
childbirth.
Fluctuations in the general population of the borough are still slight,
and the density figure has remained at between 12.5 and 12.7 per acre
since 1946.
There was a reduction in cases of all infectious diseases with the
exception of dysentery in which there was a slight increase in number,
In October cases of paratyphoid B due to phage type 3al were reported
From one family, but full investigations as to the source of infection
proved negative. Consultation with my colleagues of neighbouring areas
suggested that these were possibly linked up with cases of whom they had
many more to report. The source of infection was probably confectionery
eaten outside the borough.
Of the three cases admitted to hospital, one, a very young child
without symptoms, was admitted for convenience of treatment. In this
disease, supervision but not quarantine of contacts is carried out.
The increased incidence of dysentery led to a wider investigation of
general hygienic conditions, and as a result, to recommendations in
respect of maintenance work on sanitary conveniences in Schools and
other premises. At the same time there is no doubt that the control of this
diseases must depend as much on the effective use of up-to-date medical
treatment as on hygienic measures, for the disease spreads most where
conditions are crowded and exposure unavoidably intimate, such as
occurs all too frequently in homes lacking in modern amenities. Contacts
are examined to detect food handlers, unrecognised mild cases and
convalescent carriers. But for sporadic cases, these investigations are
time consuming and give meagre results, and with the present shortage of
Inspectors, may not be justified.
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