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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health
for the year 1965
Vital Statistics
Area and Population
The London Borough of Hounslow is comprised of
the former boroughs of Brentford and Chiswick and
Heston and Isleworth and the urban district of
Feltham and has a total area of 14,469 acres.
The Registrar General estimated that the mid year
population was 207,550 which is a reduction of 1,343
compared with the 1961 population census.
Live Births
The number of live births in 1965 was 3,541 (1,868
male, 1,673 female) and this represents a live birth
rate per 1,000 population of 17.1. The birth rate will
vary, apart from other causes, according to the age
and sex distribution of the population and to permit
of a valid comparison with other areas the Registrar
General supplies an area comparability factor. When
this is applied the rate becomes 16.6 compared with
18.1 for the whole of England and Wales. Of the total
live births 309 (8.7 per cent) were illegitimate.
Stillbirths
The number of stillbirths during the year was 51
(12 illegitimate) giving a stillbirth rate per 1,000 total
(live and still) births of 14.2.
Deaths
The deaths of borough residents during 1965
numbered 2,130 (1,102 male, 1,028 female) giving a
death rate per 1,000 population of 10.3. Like the births
the number of deaths in any area are influenced by
the sex and age distribution of the population and
here again the Registrar General supplies an area
comparability factor. When this is applied to the local
rate the result is 10.7 as compared with a rate of 11.5
for England and Wales. The causes of and ages at
death are shown in Table 1. The cause of death was
certified by the coroner in 527 cases. Sixty-eight per
cent of the deaths occurred in persons aged 65 years
and over. More than one-half of all deaths were
caused by cancer or heart disease.
Infant Mortality
During the year there were 55 deaths of children
under the age of one year and of these three were
illegitimate. These deaths give an infant mortality rate
of 15.5 per 1,000 live births as compared with 19.0 for
England and Wales. The causes of and the ages at
death of these infants are shown in Table 2. It should
be noted that 65 per cent of these deaths occurred
before the babies reached the age of one week and
that the chief causes of death were congenital malformations,
breathing difficulties and prematurity.
Maternal Mortality
No death was due to causes associated with pregnancy
and childbirth.
Infectious Diseases
Information relating to the incidence of infectious
disease must reach the Medical Officer of Health if
any effective action is to be taken to control them.
Doctors are required by statute to notify the Medical
Officer of Health of all cases of certain specified
infectious diseases.
Persons travelling overseas may be required to
produce evidence of recent vaccination against smallpox
or inoculation against yellow fever and cholera.
For this purpose a standard international form is used
which must be endorsed by the Medical Officer of
Health. During the year 3,387 such forms were so
endorsed.
The number of cases of infectious disease notified
and their age distribution are shown in Table 3. It is
pleasing to note the continuing freedom from smallpox,
diphtheria and poliomyelitis. In the cases of
paratyphoid and malaria the infection was contracted
abroad. In the case of infection of the eyes of the
newborn a complete recovery was made with no
damage to sight. Measles was more prevalent than in
the previous year but caused no death. Although this
disease is generally regarded by the public as of no
great medical significance a survey carried out by the
Medical Research Council has shown that chest and
ear complications are not uncommon. The cases of
dysentery were few but there must be no relaxation in
personal hygiene if this disease is to be kept under
control. It should be noted that the majority of the
new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis occurred in the
20-64 age groups ie during normal working life.
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