[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Lowestoft Borough and Port.

  • Lowestoft (England). Borough & Port Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Lowestoft Borough and Port. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/48 (page 1)
    To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Lowestoft. Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the Annual Report on the health of the Borough for the year 1964, which is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health and follows the pattern of reports made in previous years. The only notable change in the vital statistics is the increase in live-births from 737 (1963) to 830, a rise which appreciably increased the live-birth rate per 1,000 population and reduced the stillbirth rate, since the numbers of stillbirths remained steady. Happily, there were no deaths from maternal causes, and all other numbers and rates varied very little. The close association in the fishing industry between Lowestoft and Aberdeen came to the fore during the typhoid epidemic in Aberdeen in May/June when crews of boats and members of their families, and travelling staff of the local firms visiting Aberdeen were given protective inoculations against typhoid. Fortunately, as is well known, the epidemic was contained in Aberdeen, and no cases occurred in Lowestoft. Other infectious diseases notified were again at a minimum, and no special action was necessary during the year. Another occurrence—also connected with the fishing industry— which attracted national attention was the marked increase in the condition known as Dogger Bank Itch among the trawler fishermen. This aroused much interest in the medical and scientific professions and amongst lay people, and the publicity given to it also brought many “ cures ” by letter from all over the country and from many overseas countries. A number of men were seen by local general practitioners, and by me—in consultation with Mr. Mackenzie, Consultant Dermatologist—when the condition was at its worst, and it is small wonder that a spell ashore was necessary in many instances. An approach was made to the White Fish Authority and the Medical Research Council with a view to further research being made, and notice was received towards the end of the year that Dr. Mollie New- house had been seconded by the Medical Research Council to carry out a full scale investigation during 1965.