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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the
health and sanitary conditions of the Borough during 1949.
The population of the Borough was estimated by the
Registrar-General to be 5l,990, as compared with 50.890
1948.
The birth rate was l6.8 compared with 17.4 in 1948,
whilst the crude death rate was 11.1 as against 11.7 in 1948.
(The Registrar-General is, however, now providing a comparability
figure which enables any area to obtain a standardised death
rate comparable either to that for the country as a whole or
in respect of any other locality. By this process the death
rate in Chelsea for 1948 is found to be 10.5). The infant
mortality rate continued to decline, being 2o as against 40
and 44 in 1948 and 1947 respectively.
There was a marked decrease in the total incidence of
notifiable infectious disease, the number of notifications
received totalling 616 as against 894 in 1948. This welcome
reduction is largely accounted for by Measles 303 (404 in 1948)
and Whooping Cough 123 (230 in 1948). Only 37 cases of
Scarlet Fever were brought to the notice of the Department,
as compared with 66 in 1948.
Both food supplies and premises concerned with the
manufacture, storage, and sale of food were under close
inspection throughout the year. Details of work in this
connection will be found in this report.
I should like to make appreciative reference to the work
of my predecessor, Dr. W.H.L. McCarthy who was Medical
Officer of Health for 26 years until his retirement in
February 1950. He desires me to record his thanks to members
of the Council for their consistent consideration and support
during his tenure of office.
He also wishes to place on record his appreciation of
the loyal service he received at all times from members of
the Staff of the Public Health Department. Having been
similarly privileged since my assumption of this office some
six months ago, I should like cordially to associate myself
with these expressions of gratitude.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J.H. WEIR M.D., B.S., B.Hy., D.P.H.
Medical Officer of Health
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Chelsea, S.W.3.
August 1950.