London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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It can be seen at once that fog is a real health hazard. Many factors contribute to the development of fog
but on this occasion no one had any doubt about the importance of atmospheric pollution. "You can taste
the soot and sulphur "was the general comment, but there was little evidence of any acceptance of a personal
responsibility for the presence of the soot and sulphur. These polluters of the atmosphere come from
domestic fires and industrial furnaces and only by attention to both methods of consuming raw coal can
there be any real prospect of improvement. Despite any difficulties in obtaining modern appliances and
suitable fuel much could be done by care and attention by all responsible for the burning of raw coal.
The Secretary of the Road Safety Committee informs me that in the Borough during 1952 there
were 522 road accidents which resulted in 11 deaths, serious injury to 114 persons and slight injury to 506 persons. These figures show no improvement when compared with 1951.
The number of deaths from road traffic accidents and other accidents in Borough residents during the last ten years is shown below:—
| Year | Road Traffic | All ages | Other Accidents | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in years | Age in years | All ages | ||||||||
| 0-4 | 5-14 | 15-64 | 65 + | 0-4 | 5-14 | 15-64 | 65 + | |||
| 1943 | _ | 1 | 3 | _ | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 20 |
| 1944 | — | 4 | 10 | 5 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
| 1945 | — | 1 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 2 | — | 10 | 15 | 27 |
| 1946 | — | 2 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
| 1947 | — | — | 10 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | 12 | 20 | 33 |
| 1948 | — | — | 8 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 28 |
| 1949 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 19 | |
| 1950 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 26 |
| 1951 | — | — | 9 | 3 | 12 | — | 1 | 4 | 13 | 18 |
| 1952 | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | — | — | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| Total | 3 | 14 | 73 | 35 | 125 | 17 | 9 | 72 | 137 | 235 |
During the same ten years there occurred in the Borough 113 cases and 9 deaths due to poliomyelitis.
In other words as a cause of death and disability poliomyelitis is of little import when compared with road
traffic and other accidents yet it can give rise to a clamour for action while accidents tend to be accepted
as a necessary evil. Poliomyelitis cannot be prevented as yet but accidents can. Prevention of accidents
is the responsibility of every individual citizen. Care and attention in the home, in the factory and on
the roads by everyone is necessary if the tragic results of accidents are to be reduced.
Another feature of the above table is the large number of deaths due to accidental causes among
persons aged 65 years and over. Falls in their homes, in institutions and in the road are all too frequent
and all who have the care of old people should see that staircases are well lighted and fitted with handrails,
that stair and other carpets are firmly fixed and that floors are not too highly polished. Old people are
reluctant and even obstinate about admitting to the frailties of age, but if more of them could be induced
to use rubber-tipped walking sticks, even indoors, many of these fatal falls might be avoided.
Infant Mortality.—During 1952 there were 23 deaths of children under the age of 1 year. This
represents an infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births of 18.6 as compared with 27.6 for England and Wales. The causes of infant deaths are shown in Table III.
In the following table the change in the local infant mortality rate over 5-year periods from 1898 is shown:—
| No. of live births | No. of deaths under 1 year | Infant Mortality Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1898-1902 | 4,369 | 698 | 160 |
| 1903-1907 | 5,264 | 665 | 126 |
| 1908-1912 | 5,383 | 590 | 110 |
| 1913-1917 | 4,661 | 461 | 99 |
| 1918-1922 | 4,326 | 327 | 76 |
| 1923-1927 | 4,333 | 271 | 63 |
| 1928-1932 | 6,055 | 318 | 53 |
| 1933-1937 | 7,121 | 313 | 44 |
| 1938-1942 | 6,912 | 393 | 57 |
| 1943-1947 | 8,210 | 345 | 42 |
| 1948 | 1,545 | 46 | 30 |
| 1949 | 1,449 | 25 | 17 |
| 1950 | 1,247 | 30 | 24 |
| 1951 | 1,201 | 22 | 18 |
| 1952 | 1,238 | 23 | 19 |
It will be seen that the fall in the infant mortality rate has generally been steady and continuous,
On theoretical grounds an infant mortality rate in the neighbourhood of 20 should be possible and the
falling rate encourages the hope that practice may yet catch up with theory.
The following table shows the age distribution of infant deaths during the last five years:—
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