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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Orpington 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]

Published
1955
Pages
70
Tables
54

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54 tables in this report

  • Page 10
    VITAL STATISTICS.
  • Page 10
    Deaths of Infants under 1 year of age.
    TotalMaleFemale
  • Page 11
    Comparative Statistics for the past five years.
    YearBirth rate (per 1,000 total population.)Death rate (per 1,000 total population).Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births).
  • Page 12
    The Death Rate for the area is 7.8 per 1,000 total population. Of the deaths occurring,
    MaleFemale
  • Page 12
    Causation of Deaths. The following tabulation gives details of the main causes of death in the Urban District during the past five years: —
    Year.
    Disease.19501951195219531954
  • Page 13
    MORBIDITY STATISTICS, The following information, which is supplied weekly by the Ministry of National Insurance, indicates the numbers of first certificates for sickness benefit, received at the Local Office.
    Four weeks endingTotal number of Certificates received.Weekly average.
  • Page 14
    OPEN AIR RECREATIONAL AMENITIES. Approximately 273.5 acres of land have been secured for public recreational purposes within the Urban District, as under: —
    Parks and Recreation Grounds.
    Ward.Acreage.
  • Page 17
    Details of the work carried out during 1954 are given below: —
  • Page 18
    Domestic Help Service The following is a summary of the cases in the Orpington area who received assistance during 1954: —
  • Page 20
    LOCAL CLINIC SERVICES.
  • Page 21
    Continued from previous page...
  • Page 24
    This total of 132 premises still dependent upon underground tanks or well supply is made up as follows:—
    Number of premises with:
    Stored Rainwater.Wells.
  • Page 26
    Average Results of the Chemical and Bac teriological Examination of the Water Supplied to Orpington Urban District Council during 1954. (Parts per million, unless otherwise stated).
    Description of Samples.No. of Samples.Ammoniacal NitrogenAlbuminoid NitrogenOxidised Nitrogen NitrateChlorides as Cl.Oxygen abs. from Permanganate 4 hrs. at 27°C.Turbidity in terms of SilicaColour m.m. brown 2ft. tube Burgess's Tintometer.Hardness (Total)Hardness Non-CarbonatepH ValuePhosphate as PO. 4Silica SiO 2Sulphates SO4Magnesium Oxygen Saturation % Mg.Conductivity.
  • Page 26
    Bacteriological Results.
    Number of samples.Before Chlorination (Raw Water). After Clorination(Water passing into Supply).
    Plate count (average per millilitre) Colonies counted on AgarBact. coli testNumber of samples.Plate count (Av. per ml.) Colonies counted on Agar 37°C. 20-24 hrs.Bact. coli test
    22°C. 3 days37°C. 20-24 hrs.Percentage samples neg. 100 ml.Average No. per 100 ml.Percentage samples neg. 100 ml.Average No. per 100 ml.
  • Page 27
    Cesspools.
  • Page 27
    Drainage and Sewerage. The trunk soil sewerage system is under the control of the West Kent Main Sewerage Board. Branch main soil sewers and main surface water sewers have been provided during the year by the Local Authority, as under:—
  • Page 28
    The following is a copy of the return relating to the year 1954, which has been supplied to the Minister of Labour and National Service:— 1. Inspections for purposes of provisions as to health.
    PremisesNo. on RegisterNo. of
    InspectionsWritten NoticesOccupiers Prosecuted.
  • Page 29
    2. Cases in which defects were found.
    No. of cases in which defects wereNo. of cases in which prosecutions were instituted.
    FoundRemediedReferred
    To H.M. InspectorBy H.M. Inspector
  • Page 29
    Outworkers. Thirty-eight lists of Outworkers were received during the year, and the following are details of the trades involved, together with the number of persons employed.
    Trade.Number of Outworkers, employed.
  • Page 30
    From statistics supplied by the Fuel Research Station comparisons have been made with other areas as follow: — (1) three towns of comparable size and distance from London. (2) one of the London boroughs and (3) a typically rural area.
    Place.Fluctuations of SulphurDioxide Distribution.
    Summer (Apl./Sept.).Winter.
  • Page 31
    Shops Act, 1950. The department continues to receive the full co-operation of the shop-keepers in regard to the various matters dealt with by the above Act.
  • Page 31
    Statistics of the year's work are given below:—
    Total number of Inspections.Number of Infestations cleared.
  • Page 34
    The number of certificates dealt with to the end of the year was as follows:—
  • Page 35
    Continued from previous page...
    Prior to 1954.During 1954.Total as at December 1954.
  • Page 35
    Housing Statistics for the Year 1954.
  • Page 35
    2. Remedy of Defects during the year without service of Formal Notices:—
  • Page 38
    FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1938. Food Sampling. One hundred and ninety-three samples of food and drugs were taken for analysis, 13 of which were formal and 180 informal.
    Article.Samnles takenResult Adult-
    Formal.Informal.Genuineerated.InferiorRemarks.
  • Page 39
    Continued form previous page...
    Article.Samples takenResult Adult-
    Formal.Informal.Genuineerated.InferiorRemarks.
  • Page 39
    Details of unsatisfactory samples:-
    Sample.Analyst's Report.Action Taken.
  • Page 40
    Continued from previous page...
    Sample.Analyst's Report.Action Taken.
  • Page 40
    Special Samples of Milk, Ice Cream and Water. In addition to the samples taken above, a further 174 samples were taken for bacteriological and pathological examination and other special tests, as under:—
  • Page 41
    The following is an analysis of the results obtained during the past three years:—
    Year.No. of samples taken.Grade 1.Grade II.Grade 111.Grade IV.
  • Page 41
    FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1938. SECTION 14. One hundred and sixty shops and food premises have been regis tered under this Section of the Act:—
  • Page 41
    Food Premises. There are some 465 food premises in the area, made up as under:—
  • Page 42
    Milk. Licences were issued in respect of the sale of milk having a special designation as follows:—
  • Page 42
    Food Complaints. Twenty-two complaints of unsound condition and/or contamination of foodstuff were received from the public during the year, as under:—
  • Page 43
    The following table gives statistical details of the ante- and postmortem inspection of animals made during 1954:— Carcases Inspected and Condemned:—
    Cattle excluding Cows.Cows.Calves.Sheep and lambs.Pigs.
  • Page 46
    Vaccination. The following figures, which have been furnished by the County Medical Officer, show the number of persons who were vaccinated against smallpox during the year ended 31st December, 1954: —
    Year of Birth.Primary Vaccination.Rc-vaccination.
  • Page 47
    Diphtheria Immunisation. The County Medical Officer has furnished the following information:— (a) Number of children resident in the Urban District who were immunised against diphtheria during 1954:—
    Year of Birth.Primary Inoculations.Reinforcing Inoculations.
  • Page 47
    (b) Number of children under the age of 15 years on 31st December, 1954, who had completed a course of immunisation at any time before that date (i.e., at any time since 1st January, 1940):—
    Year of Birth.Last complete course of injections (whether primary or booster 1950—1954.1949 or earlier.
  • Page 50
    The following is a copy of the annual return of food poisoning notifications (corrected) furnished to the Ministry of Health: —
  • Page 51
    Tuberculosis. The following is a copy of the recordings in the register as at 31st December, 1954: —
    Respiratory.Other Forms.Total No. of Cases.
    M.F.M.F.
  • Page 51
    New cases and mortality, 1954:—
    Age Groups.New cases notified or otherwise revealed. Not including Inward Transfers)*.Deaths.
    Pulmonary.Non-Pulmonary.Pulmonary.Non-Pulmonary.
    M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
  • Page 52
    New cases attending the Chest Clinic for the first time during 1954.
    Adults.Children.
    M.F.M.F.
  • Page 55
    The growth of the district since urbanisation in 1934, and its effect upon refuse collection and disposal, is evident from the following statistics: —
    19341954
  • Page 59
    TABLE I. SUMMARY OF STATISTICS, 1954
  • Page 60
    TABLE II. CAUSES OF DEATH, 1954.
    1954.
    1951.1952.1953M.F.Total
  • Page 61
    TABLE III. INFANT MORTALITY, 1954. (Compiled locally from Registrar's Death Returns).
    CAUSES OF DEATH.Under 1 Week.1 and under 2 Weeks.2 and under 3 Weeks.3 and under 4 Weeks.Total under 4 Weeks.1 month and under 3 Months3 months and under 6 Months6 Months and under 9 Months9 Months and under 12 Months.Total Deaths under 1 year.
  • Page 62
    TABLE. IV. NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 1954. Sex and Age Distribution.
    Disease.Totals.Under 11—23—45-910—1415—2425 and over.Age unknown
    M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
  • Page 63
    TABLE V. NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 1954. Ward Distribution. Attack and Mortality Rates.
    Diseases.WARDS
    TotalBiggin HillChelsfieldCrofton NorthCrofton SouthCudhamDowneFarnboroughGoddington NorthGoddington SouthGreen-Street-GreenKnockholtKnollLeaves GreenPetts WoodPoverestSt. Mary CrayCases removed to hospital.Attack rate per 1,000 population.No. of Deaths.Death rate per 1,000 population.
  • Page 64
    TABLE VI. NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 1954. Seasonal Incidence.
    Disease.Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayJuneJulyAug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Total.
  • Page 65
    TABLE VII. SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE SANITARY INSPECTORS.
    No. of Inspections.No. of premises at which defects or contraventions were found.
  • Page 66
    Continued from previous page...
    No. of Inspections.No. of premises at which defects or contraventions were found.
  • Page 67
    TABLE VIII. Nuisances, Defects, Contraventions, etc., Abated or Remedied in 1954.