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PREFACE.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Merton and Morden Urban District Council.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for 1949.
Once more I am able to report to you that the health of the
district as judged by all standards of measurement known to us
compares most favourably with the country as a whole as with
the towns both great and small. These comparisons are dealt
with in detail in the text of the report.
Study of the vital statistics enables us to measure the health
of a community, and a comparison with past years gives the
clue to trends. The expectation of life at birth in England today
is 65 years. What are the possibilities for improvement ?
Detailed analyses of causes of death in age groups have been
made this year to afford material to form some judgment on
these interesting questions. Vital statistics, too, give us only
a limited insight into the happiness and well-being of a community;
the incidence of mental disease and the prevalence of
suicide are our only statistical measure. The available information
has been collated and presented in the report.
In the detailed analysis of causes of death in age groups it
will be of interest that 19 of our residents last year survived their
90th year and that a further five had passed their 95th year.
The presentation of this report enables me to record my
appreciation of the unfailing interest and encouragement that
the Council accords to the Health Department, and also affords
me the opportunity of expressing my gratitude to the staff of
the department for their loyal support and co-operation.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
A. W. JOHNS,
Medical Officer of Health.
September. 1950.
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