View report page

CHIGWELL URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Chigwell Urban District Council.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES. AND GENTLEMEN.
I have pleasure in presenting to you the Annual Report
including the report of the Senior Sanitary Inspector, for the
year ending 31st December. 1951.
vital statistics.
The birth-rate and death-rate were little different from the
previous year. Live births exceeded deaths by 502. The population
increased by 4,480 due mainly to immigration into the
L.C.C. Housing Estates.
infectious diseases (See also Section f).
Measles, whooping cough and dysentery were markedly
prevalent during the Spring, though most cases were mild.
Admissions to hospital were less than 1 per cent of cases, with
only one death (measles). Thorough investigation failed to
reveal any spread of dysentery by public food supplies, and
direct case-to-case infection seems to have been the rule. As
cases in the same family were frequently recorded, a disappointingly
low standard of personal hygiene in many homes can
be deduced.
One case of enteric fever occurred (Paratyphoid A) in a
child recently returned from a caravan holiday in another area.
The usual precautions were instituted and all local practitioners
were immediately warned. No further cases were reported in
the District.
food poisoning.
Incidents in which definite food poisoning bacteria were
involved were limited to 4, with a total of 7 cases. Sliced,
wrapped bread was responsible for 2 cases, and sausages were
suspected in another one. The foodstuff responsible for the remaining
4 cases could not be identified. There were no deaths.
poliomyelitis. (Infantile Paralysis) was less prevalent than
in recent years, only 4 cases being notified (no deaths).
diphtheria was again entirely absent from the District, for
the fifth successive year.
1