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3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR 1954
Town Hall,
Anerley Road, S.E.20.
12th May, 1955.
To the Chairman and Members of the Urban District Council of Penge.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
I beg to present an Annual Report for the year ended 31st December, 1954,
which has been compiled in accordance with Circulars 1/54 and 28/54 of the
Ministry of Health.
The Vital Statistics for the year show the lowest death rate recorded in the
district since 1932, and the birth rate, though lower than last year, still remains
above the average for England and Wales. Unfortunately the stillbirth rate
remains high and again a maternal death has to be recorded. Whilst the death
rate for cancer remains below the average for the country as a whole that for
tuberculosis is above. It will be observed later in the report an increase in the
number of cases of tuberculosis notified and on the register at the end of this year.
This is partly accounted for by a routine X-ray examination of the inmates of
an institution in the district and 21 of the new cases were inmates of this place.
A study of the table of causes of death shows that cardiovascular disease is much
the commonest cause of death and that although the site of the lesion varies
according to the sex the numbers affected are almost equal. Cancer in all its
forms claimed more deaths in men than women and cancer of the lung was
returned as the cause of death in men only. Respiratory diseases, other than
tuberculosis, are lower in number and again are more frequent in men than women.
Infectious diseases have been few with the exception of an outbreak of
Sonne dysentery in April to which reference is made later in the report, and
an increase in the number of cases of Scarlet fever. For the seventh successive
year no case of diphtheria has been reported, a solid proof of the value of
immunisation. Too few parents, however, are taking advantage of the opportunities
for their children to receive the reinforcing inoculations which are such
an essential part in maintaining immunity to the disease. These are given at
4½ and 8½ years and should never be missed, but in spite of the larger number
of children of school age fewer of them received these reinforcing injections
than last year. Diphtheria can still occur in the district and can cause quite a
number of cases before being brought under control.
I should like once again to pay tribute to the excellent work done in the
district by the various voluntary bodies in the provision of meals, clubs and homes
for the aged.
Towards the end of the year the Council decided to initiate a campaign in
connection with personal hygiene and clean food. To this end handbills were
distributed early in 1955 through the schools, welfare centre and public library
and posters displayed on various sites in the district.