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statistics AND social conditions of the area.
SITE AND AREA. The County Borough of West Ham lies In the County of Essex within an
area about 4 miles from north to south, and about 2 miles from east to west (4-,689 acres).
It is bounded on the north by the Boroughs of Leyton and Wanstead and Woodford, by the
County Borough of East Ham on the East, on the south by the River Thames, and to the West
by the Metropolitan Boroughs of Poplar and Hackney. The area is flat and low lying varying
from 5 to 45 feet above sea level.
POPULATION. The estimated civilian population in 1951 was 170,100. This figure is
based on the Census which took place during the early part of the year and shows that the
population of West Ham was 2,700 less than the estimated population for 1950.
BIRTH RATE. Live Births. The number of live births during the year was 2,934
(males 1,4.97 and females 1,4.37) • This gives a rate of 17.2 per 1,000 total population;
the rate for 1950 was 16.6. Illegitimate births accounted for 14.6, or 4.9 per cent of
all live births - the rate for 1950 was 4.8.
Stillbirths. There were 67 stillbirths (40 males and 27 females) giving
a rate of 22 per 1,000 total births. This Is the same rate as for 1950.
DEATHS. During the year 1,995 (males 1,062 and females 933) West Ham residents died,
giving a crude death rate of 11.7 per 1,000 population. The death rate for England and Wales
was 12.5 and for the 126 County Borough and Great Towns (Including London) 13.4. The causes
of death at different periods of life and distinguishing male and female are given in
Appendix 1, page 79.
INFANT MORTALITY. The deaths of children under 1 year of age numbered 74 (males 40
and females 34) giving an infant mortality rate of 25.2 per 1,000 live births as against
27.7 for 1950. The rate for England and Wales was 29.6 and for the 126 County Borough and
Great Towns (including London) 33.9. The list of causes of death can be found in Appendix 1,
page 79 of this report.
MATERNAL MORTALITY. During the year there were 2 deaths from maternal causes giving
a maternal mortality rate of 0.6 per 1,000 live and stillbirths as against a rate of 1.7 for
1950 when 5 deaths occurred. The rate for England and Wales was O.79.
infectious diseases.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS. Ten cases occurred during the year as compared with 30 in 1950.
The case rate was 0.06 per 1,000 of the population. There were 3 paralytic cases and 2 of
these died; 7 cases showed no paralysis. It is interesting to note that although the
incidence of this disease was lower than in the previous year a large number of the notified
cases were diagnosed in the absence of paralysis. This is due to an increasing familiarity
with this condition on the part of the general practitioners, and since it is only by early
diagnosis, prompt treatment and adequate nursing that the effects of the disease can be
minimised, this may well lead to a reduction in the proportion of cases developing severe
paralysis in future epidemics.