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
Surbiton 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Surbiton]
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In previous reports I have specifically mentioned the
absence of Diphtheria in the Borough since 1946, and I am verypleased
to say that for the third year in succession we have had
no case of Poliomyelitis in Surbiton. I would like to acknowledge
the great help given to us by the general medical practitioners in
carrying out an intensive and persistent programme of active
immunisation among children and adults.
There has been steady progress towards keeping up all-round
high standards of food hygiene.
Birthss The number of live births for 1960 is 921 and compares
with 853 for 1959. The birth rate is 14.36 per 1,000 of the
population compared with 13.38 for the previous year.
Deaths: The number of deaths recorded in 1960 is 675 compared
with 615 for 1959. This gives a death rate of 10.53 per thousand
of the population compared with 9.64 for 1959.
The number of deaths of infants under one year in 1960 is 16
giving an Infant Mortality Rate of 17.37 compared with a rate of
17.58 for 1959. The causes of death of these infants will be seen
on page 10.
Causes of death: The main causes of death during 1960 were:-
Heart and circulatory disease 249
Cancer 134
Vascular lesions of
Nervous System 87
In view of the attention given to the relationship between smoking and lung cancer the relevant figures for Surbiton residents is given belows-
| 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus | 21 | 2 | 24 | 6 | 19 | 4 | 26 | 3 | 22 | 4 | 34 | 1 |
| Total | 23 | 30 | 23 | 29 | 26 | 35 | ||||||
Housing; Housing still remains an urgent and demanding
responsibility for the Council. The activity of recent years by
private developers continues and the remarks made in my letter of
last year still apply.
The new housing units will require to be grouped in blocks
of higher buildings and greater densities to allow the inclusion
of more household amenities such as adequate refuse incineration
arrangements particularly in modern dwellings with no solid fuel
burning fireplaces.
3.