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PREFACE
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OP THE
ROYAL BOROUGH OP KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES.
ANNUAL REPORT. 1951
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on
the public health and sanitary circumstances of the Borough
for 1951.
It follows the same pattern as that for 1950 and gives
information on essential matters affecting the Public Health,,
Population - The fifteenth census of the population
of England and Wales was taken in April, 1951, an interval
of twenty years after the previous census.
The total population figure for Kingston at the date of
the 1951 census was 40,168 (18,430 males: 21,738 females).
This showed an increase of 0.9% in the intercensal period
193l/951. the population at the previous census being
39,825 persons. It is also interesting to note that at
the 1921 census the population was 39,514 and that from that
date until now the figure has increased by only 654 persons
in thirty years.
It must be remembered that these census figures only relate
to the resident population, and do not represent the large
day population of the town.
The population figure shown in this report under "General
Statistics"16 the estimated mid 1951 total of 39,920 and it
has been used in the compilation of the statistical data now
presented.
Infectious Disease - In general the health of the people
has been good. The number of infectious diseases notified
in 1951 was higher than in 1950, but this was almost entirely
due to a greatly increased incidence of measles and whooping
cough. A reduction in the number of cases of scarlet fever
and poliomyelitis is recorded. Once again, for the fourth
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 1951 some 59% of the children born between
1st. July 1950 and 30th. June 1951 have been vaccinated.
Births - The number of live births for 1951 is 574, and
compares with 619 for 1950. The Birth Rate if 14.39 per
1,000 of the population, compared with 14.76 for 1950.