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BOROUGH OF BRENTFORD AND CHISWICK
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Chiswick, W. 4.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick,
Mr Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I have the honour to present the 30th Annual Report on the health of the
people of Brentford and Chiswick
The health of the population in general continued to be good, and the standard
of hygiene maintained at a satisfactory level-
Work progressed, though slowly, in the demolition of slum dwellings and
the provision of better sanitary facilities for those sections of the population
living in conditions where such facilities were below modern standards.
There were no major outbreaks of infectious disease of a serious nature,
but measles notifications were numerous
A slight rise occurred in the Death Rate., the principal causes of death
being Circulatory Diseases. Heart Disease and Cancer, the figures for thelatter
disease however being well below those for 1956.
Notifications of and deaths from tuberculosis were both lower in 1957, there
were no cases of diphtheria and two cases only of confirmed paralytic poliomyelitis
The Birth Rate fell, but the number of infants born prematurely showed a
considerable rise More than twice the number of infants were born prematurely
in 1957 than in 1950. This figure is however, offset by a reduction in infant
deaths and stillbirths, so there seems as yet no cause for alarm.
The County Council scheme for vacciration against poliomyelitis began to
develop during 1957, unfortunately this was accompanied by a fall in the numbers
obtaining protection against diphtheria and a fall in infant vaccinations.
Vaccination against tuberculosis is now being offered to 13 year old children
in the schools - to protect them against the breakdowns frequently associated
with entry into adult living and occupations in the adolescent period.
The Mass X-Ray Unit visited the Borough for several weeks during 1957 but
the numbers attending for examination were very small compared with those for
former visits of those attending 2.3 per thousand were found to be tuberculous
a similar figure to that obtained on the last survey,
Welfare work continued to expand, particularly for the aged and chronic
sick and the demand for meals for housebound old people continued to grow.
Atmospheric Pollution,, whilenota major problem in Brentford and Chiswick,
continued to be kept under observation, The coming into operation of the Clean
Air Act brought the question of the formation of smoke control areas into the
deliberations of the Borough Council.
For various items of information in this report I am much indebted to a
number of persons, listed overleaf, and offer them sincere thanks.
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