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of the lung but included all other forms of cancer. In recent years attention
has been drawn to the general increase in the number of deaths from
lung cancer and its possible association with heavy cigarette smoking,
and it will be seen in the analysis on page 9 that there are still nearly
five times as many male deaths from lung cancer as females.
There was an increase in deaths from influenza and pneumonia due,
in part, to an epidemic of influenza which occurred in Wimbledon in
the early part of the year and which was also fairly widespread throughout
the country.
The tuberculosis death rate was about average for recent years at
0.10 and compares with 0.08 for England and Wales. As was expected,
the tuberculosis notification rate was higher than last year's record
low figure, but was still well below the recent average.
Five deaths were recorded from motor vehicle accidents, this being
two less than last year. All other accidents accounted for 20 deaths,
which was 10 more than in the previous year. Suicides totalled 7 cases,
compared with 10 in 1958.
Notifications of infectious disease amounted to 762 compared with
306 in 1958. The increase was due to the fact that 1959 was a "measles"
year and this disease accounted for 627 of the total notifications. There
were no deaths from infectious diseases. Notifications of whooping
cough reached a new low level with only 5 cases being notified during
the year.
Once more, for the tenth year in succession, Wimbledon was
completely free from diphtheria. There were, however, outbreaks of
the disease in unimmunised children in some parts of London, which
should serve to emphasise to parents the importance of keeping their
children as highly immune as possible, and for the initial protection
to be given in the first year of life. As I have stressed in previous
Reports it is only by the maintenance of a high level of immunity that
the population will be safeguarded from the return of this dreaded
disease.
Increased supplies of vaccine enabled the Poliomyelitis Vaccination
programme to continue without interruption throughout the year. At
the end of 1959 the very satisfactory total of 10,427 or 79% of children
under the age of 15 years had been vaccinated with two or more injections.
In the 15-26 years age group the acceptance rate was approximately
45%, a fairly satisfactory percentage having regard to the
difficulties of contacting this age group, but one which still calls for
improvement.
As in 1958, only one case of poliomyelitis was notified, and in view
of the climatic conditions it should be possible to afford some credit
for this to the Poliomyelitis Campaign.
From this brief summary it will be seen that, the health of the
residents has remained good, and that further progress has been made.
I should like to take this opportunity of expressing to the Chairman
and Members of the Health Committee my appreciation for the consideration
and courtesy which they have shewn to me during the year.
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