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Mr.Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for 1953.
The Registrar-General's estimate for the mid-year population was 169,100, This is
smaller than last year's figure of 170,500 and it would seem that the slow downward trend
of recent years is still in progress.
The birth-rate, at 16.6 per 1,000 population, is comparable with that for the previous
year, of 160.4. The death-rate at 8.8 per 1,000 population is the lowest recorded in pre- or
post-war years: it compares with a rate of 10.7 for 1952.
It will be noted that this year the statistical summary on page 5 quotes two sets
of birth and death rates, the "crude" or ordinary rates and the "adjusted" rates. The reason
for the adjustment is explained on page 6. By counteracting the effect of differences in
age and sex composition of the population it brings out more clearly the relative effects of
such factors as environment and social circumstances on the numbers of births and deaths in
the various local authority areas. In the case of West Ham the adjusted birth rate is lower,
and the adjusted death rate is higher, than the crude rate: nevertheless, the death rate,
even after adjustment, remains below that of the country as a whole and below that of the
Great Towns.
The stillbirth and infant mortality rates both showed some increase this year. Nearly
all the excess of infant deaths fell within the neo-natal period (i.e., the first month after
birth) which is recognised as the most difficult to influence by preventive measures. The
association with a high stillbirth rate, however, suggests the possibility that a common factor
may be operating which is not revealed in the analysis of causes of death and may be of a
social nature, A single year's fluctuation is no sure guide, and it is perhaps an indication
of progress that a reversion to rates which were regarded as favourable less than ten years
ago is now called into questions but the level of infant deaths has long been regarded as a
pointer to the living standards achieved by a community - economic as well as hygienic - so
that apart from any considerations of the loss of lives involved, an increase in the rates
can never be viewed without concern. The figures for the ensuing years must be awaited before
we can tell whether this year's increase is of any real significance.
The measles epidemic which commenced towards the end of last year continued into this
one but, as expected, it had abated by the middle of the year. It was followed by a smaller
epidemic of whooping cough which was also over before the year ended. The notifications of
tuberculosis increased to the upper level of post-war years but were accompanied by a further
small decline in the numbers of deaths from the disease. This anomalous finding would appear
to be partly due to a more intensive search for cases and their discovery in an earlier stage
when they can be more effectively treated, and partly due to the greater efficiency of modern
treatment. It does not indicate much progress in prevention. A vigorous pursuit of all the
methods open to us for detecting sources of infection, protecting others at risk and building
up resistance against infection will probably be required before the notification rate can
ultimately be brought down. West Ham shared the national increase in the prevalence of
dysentery - a phenomenon so far unexplained - and experienced the Increased summer prevalence
of poliomyelitis which is now coming to be regularly expected. Neither of these reached
alarming proportions, however, or caused any deaths. In other respects the year's experience
of infectious diseases was favourable.
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