[Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Preston (Union) R.D.C.

  • Preston (Lancashire, England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1953
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Preston (Union) R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/64 (page 5)
    To the Chairman and Members of the Preston Rural District Council. Gentlemen, I have the honour of presenting for your consideration the Annual Report on the health, sanitary conditions and circumstances of the Preston Rural District for the year ending 31st December, 1953, together with the vital statistics relative to that period. Reference was made in the Annual Report for 1952 of the receipt from the General Register Ofhce of a memorandum on the transfers of births, deaths and stillbirths, and as a result certain changes would be put into force in 1953 in connection with the recording of deaths in institutions. From the 1st January, 1953, the death of a person who was an inmate of Whittingham Hospital or the Ribchester Institution was not transferable, and had to be accepted as l^longing to the Rural District. Due to this new procedure, the mortality rates for 1953 are not strictly comparable with those of former years. The only mortality rates which are not affected are those related to infant and maternal mortality. Altogether,, 175 deaths had to be accepted from Institutions during 1953 which previously would not have been the case. This gives a general idea of the swollen character of the mortality figures and rates, which on a comparison basis would appear to be extremely un¬ favourable. Referring to the vital statistics, there was a substantial increase in the crude birth-rate, and for the reason already stated, a substantial increase in the crude death-rate. If institution deaths are deducted, the excess of births over deaths is double the figure for the previous year. The most disturbing factor is the increase in infant mortality. Twenty deaths were recorded in 1953 as compared with 11 in 1952. However, the percentage of total deaths of infants who died within 24 hours of birth was much higher in 1953 than in 1952 i.e. 50 per cent as against 9 per cent. It will be appreciated that the circumstances related to these deaths are outside the control of your officials. When the preventive service in a particular field of mortal¬ ity has reduced the mortality to figures of apparent numerical insignificance, a small increase in the number of deaths in a particular year can cause a comparison with previous years to be extremely unfavourable. If twins or triplets are concerned with such mortality then a “ freak year can occur, and this is true of 1953. There was an increased mortality amongst persons suffering from tuberculosis of the respiratory system, and more persons died from heart disease and cancer. Finally, there was in increase in the still birth-rate. Favourable features of the vital statistics are the increase in the crude birth-rate, no maternal deaths and a slight reduction in the number of illegitimate live births. There is no doubt that without the institution deaths, mortality figures, with the exception of infant mortality, would have been favourable. There was an undue prevalence of infectious and other notifiable diseases during 1953. The incidence of Measles, Whooping Cough, Dysentery and Food Poisoning was high,, and comment is made under that section of the report which deals with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. A special report on the large scale outbreak of food poisoning which occurred in June, 1953, is included under the section dealing with the Inspection and Supervision of Food. There was a reduced incidence of Scarlet Fever, and Smallpox, Enteric Fever and Diphtheria were only conspicuous by their absence. Unfortunatley six cases of Acute Polio¬ myelitis (three paralytic) and one case of Acute Encephalitis (post infectious) were