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To the Chairman and Members of the Chigwell
Urban District Council.
MADAM CHAIRMAN. AND GENTLEMEN,
I have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report of the
Medical Officer of Health for the year 1961, which includes the
report of the Chief Public Health Inspector.
Several changes of Staff have taken place in the
Department since my last report. Mr, G-. Holmes resigned his
post as Chief Public Health Inspector on being appointed Chief
Public Health Inspector and Cleansing Superintendent to the
Borough of Chingford, and was succeeded by the Deputy Chief
Public Health Inspector, Mr. R. Roper. Mr. D. Lloyd Jones,
District Public Health Inspector, resigned on being appointed
Divisional Inspector to the County Borough of Cardiff, and was
replaced by Mr. T.E.R. Jones. Mrs. Eagle stone resigned from the
Clerical Staff for domestic reasons, and was replaced by Miss J.
Richards. Mrs. B. Voak was appointed with effect from 1st
February, 1962, as an additional (Junior) Clerk to the Department.
Finally, Mr. J.A. Orrell was appointed Deputy Chief Public Health
Inspector to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Roper's appointment
and commenced his duties on 1st May, 1962.
VITAL STATISTICS.
There has been no significant change in the birth rate,
and a small increase in the death rate, as compared with the
previous year. There were more deaths from cancer of the lung,
bronchus and stomach, and from coronary and other circulatory
di3e,ases. Health education and propaganda in the coming year
are therefore being directed towards preventive measures against
these diseases.
Motor vehicle accidents accounted for eight deaths and
there were ten other accidental deaths. At least two of these
(due to bleeding from a cut and choking by a swallowoddenture,
respectively) might have been averted if prompt and efficient
first-aid had been available at the time.
Efforts to assess the extent and nature of non-fatal
home accidents met with little success, as very few doctors or
hospitals have time to supply details; also those concerned
are not always willing that injuries for which some blame might
be attached should be reported to anyone not actually concerned
with the treatment. From the little information I have been
able to obtain by courtesy of local doctors, it would appear
that nearly all domestic accidents which are not fatal are in
fact quite trivial, and due to careless and clumsy behaviour.
The cold spell at the end of the year caused at least one
local lady to fall on an icy step, and I would make a plea
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