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To the Chairman and Members of Orsett Rural
District Council.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my fourth
Annual Report upon the Health of the Rural District.
This is not so comprehensive as the Survey Report of
1930, but certain Tables relating to the work of previous
years have been inserted to facilitate comparison.
The Vital Statistics are based upon the RegistrarGeneral's
estimate of population in accordance with the
Census figures, and may be accepted, therefore, as a
very reliable guide to the health of the populace. The
Birth Kate has increased from 15.6 to 17.1, which is
considerably above the figure for the country as a whole.
The Death Rate is higher at 10.1, but below the rate for
England and Wales (12.3). The Infantile Mortality
Rate is 57.2 against 47.6 in 1930, but this compares
favourably with the national figure of 66. These details
indicate that Orsett is a healthy district, free from any
particular factor likely to exercise a deleterious effect
upon the public health.
The Maternity and Child Welfare work continues
to prosper. One new Welfare Centre was established at
Horndon-on-the-Hill (see Table of Clinics and Treatment
Centres). A small reduction in the total number
of home visits is offset by the increased number of
attendances at the Centres, making a certain amount of
home visiting unnecessary.
The outstanding feature of the Public Health work
during 1931 was the outbreak of food poisoning around
Stanford-le-Hope, a report upon which appears herein.
The refusal of certain patients and persons connected
with the food supply under suspicion to provide matter
for bacteriological examination served to emphasise one
fact— that is, that the co-operation of the public is
absolutely essential in Public Health Work, and when
it is withheld the Department's efficiency is seriously
impaired.