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4
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Tottenham, N.15.
His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Tottenham.
Mr. Mayor, My Lord, My Lady, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on certain
aspects of the health of the Borough for the year ended 31st December,
1949.
The birth rate fell to near the pre-war level at 15.45 as compared
with 17.18 in 1948 and 21.57 for the peak year 1947. The number
of deaths of infants under one year maintained a low level of '24.89.
The general death rate showed a slight increase over the previous
year, namely, 11.07 compared with 10.59 in 1948. For the fourth
year in succession no death occurred from diphtheria. Deaths from
Road Traffic Accidents were reduced from 16 to 9, and other violent
causes from 26 to 11. Suicide accounted for 20 as compared with
21 in the previous year.
Notified cases of 'pulmonary tuberculosis numbered 210, which
with the figure of 60 deaths from this disease, shows a slight increase
over the previous year. Ten cases of poliomyelitis and five of polioencephalitis
were recorded; and in each case total or partial recovery
resulted. No epidemic of infectious disease occurred during the
year.
The various sections of this Report dealing with environmental
hygiene reveal the large volume of conscientious and painstaking
work accomplished by the sanitary inspectors and the clerical staff,
particularly in connection with housing and the inspection and
supervision of food. As in 1948 special attention was given to the
operation of section 47 of the National Assistance Act in the welfare
of aged persons.
This, the first completed year of deprivation to the Borough
Council of control over the administration of the personal health
services means that for the first time in the history of school medicine