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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Medical Officer of Health
FOR THE YEAR 1951
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Hendon.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the
year 1951, this being my twenty-second report as Medical
Officer of Health.
The general standard of health in the Borough as
measured by vital statistics remains high.
It will be seen that the infantile mortality rate, whilst
remaining low, increased from last year's remarkably low
figure of 16 per 1,000 live births to 22 in the year under review.
This compares with 29 for the Country generally. Of the 47
children who died under one year of age, 34 died in the first
four weeks, the commonest causes being prematurity and congenital
defects. This is a group of conditions in which it is
difficult to effect a real reduction, and the only improvements
likely to be effective will be as a result of increased knowledge
of the causes and possibly more intensive ante-natal care,
although real advances are being made in the care of premature
infants and in the treatment of certain of the more
common congenital defects.
With regard to infectious diseases, I am glad to report
that the decline in the incidence of Poliomyelitis has been
maintained, six cases only been notified. Three of these
developed paralysis and one death occurred.
It will be seen that deaths from Tuberculosis increased by
two, but it is gratifying to observe that the notifications of
new cases showed a decrease compared with the previous
year.
For the second year in succession no cases of Diphtheria
were notified, a tribute to the effectiveness of immunisation.
There is, however, a danger that as Diphtheria ceases to be a
reality to the younger mothers, they may be reluctant to
accept immunisation for their children. So far this has not
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