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4
The year 1956 was below average for poliomyelitis in the country
as a whole, but proved to be the worst as regards number of cases
that Mitcham has had, as there were 13 cases against 11 in 1947.
Fortunately eight of the cases were non-paralytic and there was no
fatal case so that in the final result the year did not prove too severe.
After several years of a dropping tuberculosis death rate 1956
produced 13 deaths giving a death rate of .2 per 1,000 as against that
of .12 for England and Wales. To offset this, however, it was satisfactory
to record a decline in the number of new cases from 57 to 31.
Dysentery is increasingly notified and accounted for 60 cases as
against 17 for 1955, but was of a mild nature.
The birth rate of 13.45, after correction by the comparability
factor to correspond with the average age and sex grouping of the
whole population, becomes 12.91, which compares with 15.7 for
England and Wales.
The actual death rate of 9.42, which after applying the comparability
factor becomes 11.49, compares with 11.7 for the whole country.
The infant mortality rate of 13.73 is lowest ever for Mitcham
except for 1954, compared with 23.8 for England and Wales, which
is again the lowest recorded for the whole country.
The death rate from cancer has risen from 2.02 to 2.08 and that
of England and Wales has again risen to the highest ever, being 2.07
per 1,000 population. The rate for Mitcham has been higher than
that for England and Wales twice previously—in 1942 and 1945.
I wish to thank the Chairmen of the Committees for their friendly
support, and all the members of the staff for their loyalty and service
throughout the year.
I have the honour to be, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
A. R. GRAHAM,
Medical Officer of Health
Public Health Department,
Mitcham Court,
Mitcham.