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5
Public Health Department,
Council Offices,
Billet Lane,
HORNCHURCH
10th August, 1951
To the Chairman and Members of the
Hornchurch Urban District Council.
Mu. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1 beg to present to you the Annual Report of my Department
for the year 1950, the main considerations being noted below and
a more detailed report on certain aspects of the public health being
embodied later.
Vital Statistics.
The home population of the district is 103,700 at mid-year
1950.
The birth rate shows a clear fall at 13.68 as against 16.00 last
year.
The date rate—adjusted—shows a slight reduction and the
infant mortality rate at 27.74 a rise as against 1949.
Relative to the country as a whole these figures may be deemed
generally satisfactory.
Infectious Diseases.
With the exception of Whooping Cough which showed an
increased incidence, the more prevalent infectious diseases showed
a drop notably in the case of Measles and, to a lesser extent, Scarlet
Fever.
Poliomyelitis showed a slightly increased incidence, there being
15 cases against 9 in the previous year. A further note will be made
of individual diseases later.
Food and Drugs.
The first full year's working of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938,
proved satisfactory and our responsibilities in this direction are
without doubt an administrative and practical asset to the district.
Food Hygiene.
This matter received our particular attention and our plans in
this regard are being developed.