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2
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON.
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
For the Year 1953.
To the Chairman and. Members of the Health Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the
health of the people of Croydon and the relevant services of the
Corporation for the year ending December 31st, 1953.
The total number of births fell, but a reduction in the
estimated mid-year population and an increase in the area
comparability factor resulted in no change in the crude birth rate,
and a fractional rise in the corrected rate, as compared with 1952.
Despite an influenza outbreak in the early part of the year
the death rate was below the figure for last year, and low in
comparison with previous years.
The stillbirth and infant mortality rates showed small
increases. There was a remarkable fall in deaths from
tuberculosis and mortality from this disease, formerly the most
frequent cause of eath in the age group 15 to 45 years, was,
relatively of little significance. In the year under review, motor
vehicle accidents killed more persons in this age group than
tuberculosis. Total cancer deaths were fewer than in 1952, but
lung cancer, in men, showed a percentage increase and remained
the site of commonest occurrence.
The fundamental importance of the work of the Sanitary
Inspectors remains unchanged. It is easy to forget that our system
of personal health and curative medical services cannot be
established in communities which have not a high level of general