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6
DEATHS
The total number of deaths was 2,960, giving a crude death rate of 10.0 per thousand population.
When the comparability factor is applied, the standardised rate is 10.9, a little below the provisional rate
for England and Wales which was 11.5. The number of deaths from all causes is shown in Table 1. The
main causes of death and rates per thousand population are shown in Table 2. Heart disease continues to
be the leading cause of death, followed by cancer.
Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus
Cancer of the lung and bronchus continues to be the commonest cause of fatal malignant disease.
168 men and 31 women died compared with 143 men and 42 women in 1964. It is sad to see many
adolescents and school children persistently smoking in the face of all the evidence of the tie-up between
cigarette smoking and lung cancer, and it is to be hoped that parents will do their utmost to discourage their
offspring in this, not only by their good advice, but by good example in not smoking themselves.
Bronchitis.
120 men and 44 women died from bronchitis. The sex difference in number of deaths probably
relates to the heavier smoking habits of middle-aged and elderly men and to a lesser extent to conditions of
dust and smoke at work.
MATERNAL MORTALITY
There were three maternal deaths during the year, giving a rate of 0.46 per 1,000 total (live and still)
births, compared with one death last year and a rate of 0.15. The provisional rate for England and Wales
was 0.25.
INFANT MORTALITY
In 1965, 128 children died in the first year of life—75 in the first week and another 10 in the first
month. There was a slight increase in the infant mortality rate from 19.5 per 1,000 live births to 19.9, which
was a little above the figure for England and Wales (19.0). The perinatal mortality rate also increased slightly
from 28-0 to 29-3, which again was above that for England and Wales (26.9).
By Wards (Table 3)
The worst wards were St. Raphael's, Brondesbury Park, Manor, Chamberlayne and Kilburn, which
all had rates between 30 and 34 per 1,000 live births, but too much significance should not be placed on these
figures in view of the small number involved. However, there is no doubt that an improvement in social
conditions in some wards would certainly reduce the mortality.
Causes of Death (Table 4)
Prematurity was again the most important single factor in infant mortality; 45 premature babies
died (35 per cent. of total infant deaths).
Respiratory infections caused the second largest number of deaths (26). Antibiotics and improved
environmental conditions have decreased the rate from this cause considerably over the past few years, but
there is still room for improvement.
Diarrhoea and enteritis caused 3 deaths. The steady improvement in infant care and the availability
of antibiotics have decreased the rate from this cause over the past few years.
In spite of the continued improvements in obstetrics, 10 children died from birth injury. The death rate
due to this cause (1.6) has remained fairly constant for a number of years.
Twenty-one babies died from congenital malformation; one died from other infections (peritonitis
and septicaemia).
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
The declining incidence and mortality of infectious diseases such as diphtheria, scarlet fever,
measles, whooping cough and typhoid in the past 50 years is a reflection mainly of improved living conditions.
Better housing and nutrition, improved ventilation and smaller families have helped to increase resistance and
reduce the possibilities of spread of infection. Health visitors and public health inspectors have played an
invaluable role in health education and in improving hygiene.
A summary of notified and confirmed cases of various diseases for 1964 and 1965 is shown in Table 5.
diphtheria
For the eleventh year running there were no cases of diphtheria.
dysentery
The number of cases confirmed (86) decreased compared with 1964 (104).
There were two outbreaks of sonne dysentery, one at Gladstone Park Day Nursery and the other at
Longstone Avenue Day Nursery. 31 children and staff were affected at Gladstone Park, and 24 at Longstone
Avenue. The Nurseries were closed to new entrants for nearly two months until the outbreaks were cleared
up.