View report page

-3-
Deaths from Whooping Cough (all ages) - 0.
Deaths from Diarrhoea and Gastro-enteritis (under 2 years) - 2.
POPULATION.
I estimate the population resident at the middle of the
year at 25,200. This figure is based on information available
from the National Registration, the Food Control, and Civil Defence
offices, and should be, as close an approximation to the population
actually resident, as is possible under war conditions. In any case
we are now so far removed from a census, and the building operations
have been so intensified in the district since the last census in
1931, that rates based on any estimate of population must be taken
as provisional only.
BIRTHS.
The number registered in the district was 320, giving a
crude birth rate of 12.3 per 1000. The number of still births was
only 6, giving the remarkably low rate of 19.3 per 1000 live births,
compared with 38.0 for 1939, 24.0 for 1938 and 48.6 for 1937.
DEATHS.
Table 2 gives full details of the registered cause of
deaths, their distribution in wards, and particulars of inward and
outward transfers.
The nett deaths were 238, giving a crude rate of 9.5 and
a rate corrected for age and sex distribution 9.3.
The infantile mortality rate is a little higher thai in
1939 being 46.6 against 40.0., but it is still very satisfactory and
below the average for England and Wales.
Affections of the heart and circulatory system, still
continue to be the principal cause of death, and affect those past
middle age. Cancer continues to be a major cause of death and
it too occurs principally in. those over 45. In this district it
would appear that cancer and affections of the circulatory system
are the principal causes of death occurring in people over 45.
The deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis has again increased,
the rates for the past 10 years being:-
1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940
0.47 0.39 0.57 0.61 0.54 0.53 0.45 0.17 0.34 0.51
There has been a marked tendency for persons suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis to taken up their residence in this district, due probably
to its favourable situation on the northern heights, and extent and
beauty of the open spaces accessible to the public.
The deaths from respiratory diseases were considerably less
than last year 'end as usual occurred in persons past middle age.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES.
The arrangements set out in previous reports continue to
function satisfactorily.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OP THE AREA.
There has been no variation of the circumstances during
the year.