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PREFACE
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES.
ANNUAL REPORT, 1950
Ur. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report for
1950.
It follows the same pattern as that for 1949, and
gives information on essential matters affecting the Public
Health.
Population - A new and slightly increased figure of
41,950 for 1950, as against 40,660 for 1949, was given by
the Registrar General and has been used for the calculation
of the vital statistics. This is the resident night
population, and is but a small fraction of the large day
population, estimated to be about three hundred thousand,
which concentrates in the town for business, education,
entertainment, and recreation,.
Infectious Diseases - In general the health of the people
has been good. There was a substantial drop in the number
of infectious diseases notified during the year, due to a much
reduced figure for measles. Reduction in the number of
cases of scarlet fever and of poliomyelitis is also recorded.
Once again, for the third year in succession, no cases of
diphtheria were notified, and further progress was made in the
active immunisation and protection of the child population
against this deadly and disabling disease.
Vaccination against Smallpox - is voluntary and a calculation
shows that in 1950 some 62% of the children born between 1st. July
1949, and 30th. June 1950, have been vaccinated. Last year this
figure was 51% and the increase is partly due to a larger
number of vaccinations by general medical practitioners.
Births - The number of live births for 1950 is 619, and
compares with 729 for 1949. The Birth Rate is 14.76 per
1,000 of the population, compared with 17.96 for 1949°
Deaths - The number of deaths recorded in 1950 is 491,
compared with 5.00 for 1949. This makes a Death Rate of 11.73
for 1950, compared with 12.32 for 1949.
The excess of births over deaths was 128 compared with
229 for the previous year.
The number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age in 1950
is 19, which gives an Infant Mortality Rate, per 1,000 live
births, of 30.69, compared with 15 infant deaths, and a Rate
of 20.31 for 1949,
The Causes of Death - The main conditions causing death as
recorded in the Table for 1950, are Heart Disease - 136;
Cancer - 78; and Vascular Lesions of the Nervous System - 65.