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9
Local Sanitary Authority
The Registrar-General's estimate of population in the Borough for
1956 is 100,900. As in the previous year, it shows a decline in population
of 1,100 persons. The excess of deaths over births is 97, as compared
with 122 in 1955.
In my Report for 1955 I made observation to the effect that better
use of the accommodation in the Borough could be attained if a larger
number of small dwelling units were available in which to re-house some
of the aged people and, at the same time, release houses for the larger
families. At the time of writing the Council have acquired three large
houses for the accommodation of elderly people and, although it is not
with the idea of releasing larger housing units, it is possible that some
may become available and thus retain some of the larger families instead
of them having to find accommodation in the new towns.
Birth-rate.
The birth-rate of 11.74 per thousand of population shows a slight
increase as compared to the figure for 1955, i.e., 11.13, but is still a
good deal below the figure for England and Wales, viz., 15.6.
Death-rate.
The death-rate for the year is increased from 12.33 per thousand
of the population in 1955 to 12.84 in 1956, the actual deaths being
1,258 and 1,296, respectively.
The rate is higher than the rate for England and Wales (12.84
compared to 11.7) due in part to the large numbers of persons in the
elderly age-group residing in the Borough in private residences or Langthorne
Hospital as semi-permanent residents.
The causes of death, as set out in the statistical table, do not show
any special feature. The number of deaths from all forms of tuberculosis
has increased from 12 in 1955 to 16 in 1956, cancer of the lung
from 62 to 65. The largest increases are in deaths due to the circulatory
systems and various forms of cancer—the increases being 31 and 24,
respectively. There is a decrease in the number of deaths from coronary
diseases and other heart diseases.
Accidents in the Home.
Of the 15 deaths classified as due to "all other accidents," 13
occurred in the homes. Six females and three males died as a result
of falls in the home, two females died as a result of accidental coal-gas
poisoning and one due to burns from a hot-water bottle. An infant
of 11 months died as a result of " inhalation of a foreign body." Of the
deaths due to falls, eight were over 70 years of age.
I am pleased to report that early in 1957 a voluntary Committee
was set up to disseminate propaganda on Home Safety.
Infectious Diseases.
In spite of the large number of cases of Measles (831) and Whooping
Cough (163) notified during the year the incidence of infectious
disease was very low. There were two cases of paralytic Poliomyelitis
in adults and both had residual paralysis. The number of cases notified