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The problem of overcrowding of houses with its resultant threat to public health showed
little sign of abating, and indeed the number of persons coming to live in the Borough
compared to the number leaving for other districts, combined with the rise in birth rate,
suggests that the estimated population figure supplied by the Registrar-General, which is
calculated from the 1951 Census figure corrected according to the vital statistics of each
successive year, is most probably below the actual population figure for Southall.
In addition to routine environmental and food hygiene control the attention of the
Public Health Inspectors was particularly directed during the year towards the preparation
for the setting-up of the first Smoke Control Area in accordance with the directions of the
Clean Air Act, 1956. On reviewing the figures for atmospheric pollution throughout the
year the deterioration in purity of the atmosphere over this Borough gives added urgency
to the need for establishment of smoke control, and also of the control of poisonous chemical
substances produced from domestic fires and industrial furnaces.
Much time in the past has been spent in making schemes for the improvement of the
health of expectant mothers, infants, school children and the elderly, and the local services
for these sections of the community are developing very well, but viewing the death rates,
the continuing rise of deaths from stress diseases gives emphasis to the need for examination
of the causes of diseases such as coronary or cerebral thrombosis and mental breakdown
resulting in invalidism or death in the middle years of life.
Work for public health is always changing and as old problems become solved fresh
ones appear, and while vital statistics of the present day compare so favourably with those
of 50 years ago there is still too much sickness, too much chronic ill health, too many who
die untimely.
I would like to thank the whole of the staff of the Public Health Department for all the
good work done during the year and for their loyal support.
I am, Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
Iuarganl a. glqu
Medical Officer of Health.
Manor House, Southall.
Telephone Numbers:
SOU 3621-2.
SOU 5060.
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