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INTRODUCTION
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
I HAVE the honour to present my report on the health of the Borough
during 1955.
Vital Statistics.
Though births showed a decrease of 39, there was an increase of
60 in the civilian population. There is, therefore, a slow increase in
Beckenham again of the floating population which commenced in
1953 following a decrease of 730 in the preceding three years. Since
that date there have been increases of 160 and 60 respectively. There
was a marked fall in the infant mortality rate and again no maternal
deaths were recorded. All rates except the birth-rate remain better
than the national average. A great proportion of the deaths of babies
under one week old were due to Prematurity. This year the number
was five out of six deaths, compared with the usual ratio of 50 per cent.
Deaths from Cancer of the Lung were less this year. During
the past five years there were three times as many deaths from this
disease as from pulmonary tuberculosis. Since 1950, 156 Beckenham
residents—five times as many men as women—have died from this
disease. Of all deaths from malignant growths in men, cancer of
the lung accounted for one-third. The cause of this disease remains
still an open one. Until the preponderance of the disease in men
rather than women, which varies little over the years, can be confidently
explained, one cannot accept any of the theories propounded. Indeed,
it is not certain that the cause we seek is one still active, or was active
years ago, and if the latter, how many years ago?
There were half as many deaths this year from accidental causes.
In view of the high proportion of elderly persons and children in the
borough, this fact should be rewarding to those members concerned
with Road Safety, Homes and Accident Prevention.
Infectious Diseases.
There were 976 cases of Measles, the third highest figure in the
last 10 years. Though usually February and March are the months
for Measles, last year the greatest number occurred in December.
A sharp fall in the holiday months and the absence of cases to the
end of the year was more like the behaviour of this disease in Beckenham.
Only one case was admitted to hospital and there were no
deaths.
Whooping Cough, Scarlet Fever, Puerperal Pyrexia and Pneumonia
in this order were the next most frequent illnesses. Seventy-seven
out of 106 cases of whooping cough were under the age of 5 years,
whereas 54 out of 68 cases of scarlet fever were between the ages of
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