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5
Public Health Department,
Council Offices,
Billet Lane,
HORNCHURCII.
16th July, 1952.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Hornchureh Urban District Council.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present to you the Annual Report on the health of the
district during 1951.
The Vital Statistics are satisfactory generally.
The Birth Rate shows a slight rise as against last year, the Death
Rate shows a slight fall, whilst the infant mortality rate at 16.84 is
the lowest figure yet recorded.
All these rates are below the national average.
Infectious Diseases.
A major measles epidemic occurred during the year when our
total cases notified was 2,023. No deaths from the disease occurred
in spite of the great incidence.
Scarlet Fever, Whooping Cough and Poliomyelitis were all less
prevalent than in 1950.
Housing.
The demand for Council Houses continued apparently unabated
and the submission of medical evidence for priority claims showed
a marked increase.
The general position is not yet sufficiently stable for an overcrowding
survey to be made.
Accommodation provided by the Council catered for a variety
of needs.
Food and Drugs.
A full and satisfactory year's work was carried out in a manner
which reflects considerable credit especially upon Mr. M. F. G. Randall,
my Senior Sanitary Inspector and his Assistants. Details are given
later.
Food Hygiene.
Our efforts to assist in maintaining the local standards at a high
level were continued. Model Bye-Laws are now in force and routine
inspections are emphasized as a necessity for their implementation.
Atmospheric Pollution.
Our investigations in this connection are co-ordinated with the
aims of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.