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7
PREFACE
Public Health Offices.
Ilford.
July, 1954.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Ilford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I submit herewith the Annual Report on the Health Services for the
year 1953.
Those indices that reflect on the general health of the population
remain a source of satisfaction. The infant mortality rate of 20.17 deaths
per 1,000 live births is considerably lower than that for England and
Wales, the Great Towns and Smaller Towns, and the London Administrative
County. The death rate rose somewhat from 10.74 to 11.03, probably
due to the fog and influenza of the 1952-1953 winter, but is still lower than
in all the aforementioned groups.
There were no deaths from child-bearing, diphtheria, poliomyelitis,
smallpox or typhoid. However, 41 citizens died from accidents, and 26 of
these were not motor vehicle accidents, an indication of the need for further
work in Home Safety Propaganda. There were 16 suicides.
Whilst we have every reason to be proud of the low infant mortality
rate, low death rate and low figures for deaths from infectious diseases,
this is but one side of the picture. Our work of prevention is far from
ended when we still have something to prevent. Of the 1,942 deaths in
Ilford in 1953, nearly a quarter come under the three headings of Bronchitis
(160), Cancer of the Lung (61) and Coronary Disease (248)
The English Disease.
In the bad old days rickets was so prevalent in England that this complaint
was known abroad as the "English Disease." Due to better child
care and nutrition, this disease has been practically wiped out in this
country, but, in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal it was suggested
that the term "English Disease" be now given to chronic bronchitis.
The figures for deaths from this disease in England and Wales, as
compared with other countries, are most depressing. In 1950 England and
Wales, with 65 deaths per 100,000, headed the table. This rate was over
twice that of Japan and Belgium, over 30 times that of the U.S.A. and
over 60 times that of Denmark. Many people are wondering why we should
suffer so in this country. The climate is surely not so much different from
that of Scandinavia, Belgium, or that misty country Japan, and anyway,
even in England, the incidence is less in the country than in the towns.
Smoking has been considered, but we certainly do not smoke more than
the Americans. Many are coming to think that it is due to the pollution
of the atmosphere by factory, power station and the domestic grate,
especially the last one, almost an English institution. In the great London
fog of the 1952-53 winter about 4,000 people are said to have died, and