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1
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF
THE BOROUGH OF LEYTON.
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 1945, together with my Annual
Report to the Education Authority on the work of the school
medical service during the year. These reports are drawn up on
the lines required by the Ministry of Health and the Board of
Education.
During each year since the outbreak of war the Central
Government Departments controlling health and education have
issued instructions that the Annual Reports of Medical Officers
of Health and School Medical Officers should be abbreviated as
far as possible, and similar instructions have been issued in respect
of Annual Reports for 1945. Under the circumstances the report
which follows will be found to consist almost entirely of the dry
bones of public health activity—facts and figures in the form of
statistical tables required by the Ministries of Health and Education.
Although such information makes dull reading, it is necessary
to find out and record the facts in order that we may be in a
position to lay a sure foundation in the measures to be adopted
for advancement of the public health.
Vital Statistics.
The last official census return—that for the year 1931—
showed the population of Leyton to be 128,313 persons. By the
last pre-war year (1938) the Registrar General's estimate of the
population was 117,200; and his estimated figure—the figure
from which all vital statistics are calculated—for the year 1945
is 87,330.
The number of births registered in the Borough during 1945
was 1,474, giving a birth rate of 16.87 per thousand of the
population.
Deaths of Leyton residents certified during the year numbered
1,147, giving a general death rate of 13.13 per thousand. Three
women died from diseases and accidents of pregnancy and childbirth—maternal
mortality rate 1.99 per thousand total (live and
still) births. The number of deaths of infants under one year of
age was 52—infantile mortality rate 35.27 per thousand live
births.