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Diseases of the heart and circulatory system in 1959 continued to
account for a very high proportion of total deaths. There were 47 deaths
from coronary disease, as compared with 65 in 1958. The proportion of
these cases, as between males and females, continues to show a large
proportion of males. The older age groups produced a large proportion
of deaths from disease of the heart and circulatory system.
Three deaths were recorded from motor vehicle accidents, being one
more than in 1958. All other accidents accounted for 5 deaths, compared
with 8 in 1958. Suicides totalled 4 cases, compared with 2 in 1958.
During the year, a Home Safety Committee was set up and put in a
good deal of work in disseminating information concerning common
accidents in the home. This Committee works in close association with
the Road Safety Committee, whose excellent work was continued throughout
the year.
No mothers died in childbirth during 1959, and this gives a maternal
mortality rate per 1,000 total births of nil, as compared with 0-38 for
England and Wales.
The infantile mortality rate shows an increase at 18.56 per 1,000 live
births, as compared with 7.50 in 1958. Eight infants died under the age
of 1 year in 1959 out of 431 live births. On page 15 will be found an
analysis of the causes of death.
When we recorded an infantile mortality rate of 7.50 in 1958, this was
thought to be the lowest infantile mortality rate for any district. The
figures, however, with which we deal in a Borough the size of Beddington
and Wallington, are so small as to rob such a statement of much of its
importance. This is clearly borne out by the infantile mortality rate
quoted for 1959, at 18.56.
An increase in the number of infants that have died, from 3 to 8,
increases the mortality rate from 7.50 to 18.56 per 1,000 live births.
The incidence of infectious disease generally throughout the year, has
been low, with the exception of measles, 491 cases of this disease being
notified in 1959.
Scarlet fever, with 73 notified cases, was next in the order of incidence.
Ten cases of whooping cough were notified during the year. Immunisation
against whooping cough is practised on as wide a scale as possible, the
immunising material being contained in the injection given for immunisation
against diphtheria.
The fact that we still record even a small number of cases of whooping
cough, indicates that parents are not availing themselves of all the opportunities
given to them for immunisation. The attention of parents, and
all those having the care of children, should be drawn to these figures; if
one hundred per cent of immunisation against whooping cough could be
achieved, one feels that the number of notified cases should be reduced
even further.
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