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THE COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHALL, 1953
HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR
*Councillor J. G. P. Dormer, J.P.
Deputy Mayor:
Councillor J. Salmon.
Aldermen:
*Dane, A. T.
Douglas, H. C.
*Gardner, F. E. f*LowE, J. {Chairman).
Hopkins, W. H. Marks, F. J., J.P.
Councillors:
*Barrett, J.
†*bldwell, S. J.
*Cavell, Mrs. I., J.P.
Dormer, J. G. P., J.P.
*Errington, F. G.
Godman, A. S.
Haigh, J.
Hook, R. E,
Love, P. J.
Lye, A. E.
*Salmon, J.
†*SHEIL, E. J.
Shepherd, A. H.
Southey, P. G.
Steele, T. J.
*Ward, J. H.
White, H. J.
*Williams, Mrs. V. G. I.
*Members of the Public Health Committee.
†Members of the Area Health Committee (Area No. 9).
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Southall.
MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to present the 57th Annual Report on the health and circumstances
of the population of the Borough of Southall for the year 1953. The health of the people
continued to be good.
The birth rate, which has been falling annually since 1946, rose in 1953 to 13.22 from
12.94 in 1952 The death rate fell from 9.33 in 1952 to 9.18 in 1953. Both of these rates
are exclusive of deaths occurring within the long-stay institutions inside the Borough.
Heart disease, coronary disease and cancer were the principal causes of death.
There was an increase in the number of infant deaths in 1953, giving an infant mortality
rate of 29.45 Per thousand live births, as against 19.83 the previous year. The fact that
9 of these infants were born prematurely, one died of birth injury, and one of whooping
cough, combined with the fact that there was an increase in the number of premature still
births, and of premature infants born alive, suggests that more ante-natal care, and more
instruction in pre-natal hygiene and in the prevention of infectious disease are required
for expectant mothers.
The total number of infectious disease notifications was higher than during the previous
year. This was principally due to measles and whooping cough. No case of diphtheria
has been notified in the Borough of Southall since 1950. The number of notifications
of scarlet fever has increased for the second year in succession, and it was noteworthy
that in 10 instances secondary cases occurred where the child was nursed at home, home
isolation having been insufficient to prevent the spread of the infection. There was a
decrease in the number of cases of poliomyelitis, only four occurring, but of these two were
rapidly fatal. A nation-wide outbreak of influenza occurred during the early part of 1953,
and nine deaths from this cause were reported in Southall.
The number of infants brought for vaccination showed a considerable increase during
1953, and arrangements were made by Middlesex County Council for the provision of
facilities for vaccination at County Clinics. The anti-diphtheria immunisation figures
remained steady, showing neither an increase nor a decrease.
There was a fall in the number of notifications of tuberculosis from 123 in 1952 to
91 in 1953; the number of deaths, however, from this cause rose from 9 in 1952 to 12 in
1953.
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