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23.3 deaths per thousand live births. Nineteen of these deaths occurred in the first
week of life. Two children died from congenital deformities but it has not been
possible to find out whether the drug thalidomide was involved. From conversations
with consultant obstetricians and doctors in the area in and around Finchley I gather
that thalidomide was little prescribed and I am hopeful that Finchley has escaped
lightly.
COMMUNICABLE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES:
Apart from the expected epidemic of measles the year 1961 was generally quiet.
The advent of smallpox in London in December resulted in the Department being
extremely busy, a situation which continued well into the new year. I am pleased to
report once more that there were no cases of poliomyelitis or diphtheria. Dysentery
was again mild following the national trend which showed a reduction of more than
50% in notified cases.
Food Poisoning showed an unwelcome increase resulting in 21 cases, compared
to 8 cases last year. Nevertheless our knowledge in regard to the spread of this condition
is increasing, and strengthening the view that the major source of infection is raw
meat and poultry which carries the organisms into our homes. Person to person spread
did not appear to be a factor of any of the cases which occurred.
This Department in conjunction with the Public Health Department of Hendon
and the Central Public Health Laboratory at Colindale produced some evidence in
an investigation carried out over the past two years concerning pet animal foods and
artificial fertilizers, a short summary of which appears on page 27.
Details of the various illnesses met with during the year can be read under the
appropriate headings in the body of the report.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES:
Perhaps the outstanding feature of the year has to be the advent of Clean Air
Areas in the southern part of the Borough. Smoke Control Orders governing these
Areas came into operation in September, 1961. Visually the effect of these Areas is
remarkable. The roof of the eleven storey block at Prospect Ring, East Finchley,
forms a useful vantage point for observation and I can only state that the difference
between looking north and looking south over the Clean Air Areas is most striking, the
only spoiling factor being the odd garden bonfire.
Details of these Smoke Control Areas and future plans are to be found later in this
report.
GENERAL:
Over the past few years I have commented on the services for the elderly in the
Borough and I had hoped to be able to include accurate figures concerning the aged
from the 1961 Census for this report but alas they are not yet available. Nevertheless
it is obvious that despite the vast amount of effort put in by statutory workers and
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