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TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF
THE BOROUGH OF LEY TON.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present herewith my Annual Report on
the health, sanitary circumstances and vital statistics of the
Borough of Leyton during the year 1933, together with my Annual
Report to the Education Authority on the work of the school
medical service during the year.
Meteorological.
From a meteorological point of view the year 1933 will be
remembered for its very warm, sunny and dry summer. During
nine successive months (February-October) the mean temperature
remained well above normal at Greenwich. Thundery conditions
were prevalent during May and June, and several deaths occurred
from lightning during the latter month. The months of July,
August and September were unusually warm and sunny, with
deficiency of rain; and we experienced the driest August since the
year 1818. Fogs were very prevalent during January and December.
Vital Statistics.
The number of births registered during the year was 1,499,
giving a birth rate of 11.91 per thousand of the population—the
lowest ever recorded in the area. The lowest birth rate previously
recorded was that (13.10 per thousand) of the previous year; and
the graph shown on page 16 shows in diagrammatic form the
extent and rapidity of the fall in the Leyton birth rate since the
year 1920, when the rate was more than double that of 1933. It
will be seen from the statistics on page 14 that the birth rate in
Leyton remains at a consistently lower level than in London or
in the country generally.
The deaths of Leyton residents certified during the year were
1,468. The general death rate (11.67 per thousand) shows a slight
increase when compared with the rate (10.54) recorded during the
previous year, the causes of death contributing to the relative increase
being influenza, heart disease, cerebral haemorrhage and
cancer. The Leyton death rate (11.67) compares with corresponding
rates of 12.3 for England and Wales and 12.2 for London. Of the
total number of deaths certified during the year, 48 per cent. occurred
in persons of 65 years and over.