Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health [to] the Corporation of the City of Capetown.

  • Cape Town (South Africa). City Health Department.
Date:
[1922]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health [to] the Corporation of the City of Capetown. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE CORPORATION OF TEE CITY OF CAPETOWN. APPENDIX No. 8. Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health. (A'. Jasper Anderson, M.A., M.B., Oxoii., M.B.C.S.E., D.P.H., Cantab.) FOE THE YEAE ENDED 30th JUNE, 1922. Foreword. To His Worship the Mayor AND Councillors of the City of Capetown. Gentlemen, In presenting my report on the Health of Capetown during the period July 1st, 1921, to June 30th, 1922, I wish to draw your attention particularly to the favourable vital statistics revealed in the report. The crude death-rate was 11.8<S for Europeans, which is the lowest since Unification, the next lowest being 12.84 in 1915-1916, being 1 per 1,000 of the population higher; for non-Europeans 27.46 is the crude death-rate, which is also the lowest, the next lowest being 27.66 in the year 1915-1916. If the deaths of persons who came into the City for treatment or other causes are deducted, the death-rate for Europeans is the very favourable one of 10.63; and for non-Europeans 26.18, which is low for that section of the com¬ munity; being the lowest on record for Europeans, and for the non-Europeans practically identical with that of 1915-1916. The death-rate from the principal infectious diseases is low. Thus there were no deaths from smallpox, measles, and scarlet fever; those from whooping cough and diarrhoea enormously decreased, and from enteric fever reduced about 20 per cent., but from diphtheria slightly increased. In the case of enteric fever and diphtheria there is considerable room for improvement, and indications up to date point to that occurring, which will be contributed to by the rapid connection of the drainage of the houses in the suburbs to the sewers. The infant mortality figures are very encouraging and show that the increased attention paid by the Department and other agencies to infant welfare is bearing fruit. The rate amongst Europeans was 69, amongst non-Europeans 176, and all classes 137, being the lowest on record for the City. TEe death-rate for the seven principal zymotic diseases was 0.33 for Europeans, 1.51 for non-Europeans, and 0.85 for All Classes. These rates may be considered very satisfactory when compared with similar rates for the previous year which were, 0.86, 3.52 and 2.06 respectively, and are the lowest on record. These results have been arrived at in spite of the overcrowding and scarcity of house accommodation in the City, and speak volumes for the activity of the Department in carrying out its multifarious duties. The Health and Building Eegulations Committee is to be congratulated. I am, Yours faithfullv, A. JASPEE ANDEESON, (M.A., M.B.. Oxon., M.E.C.S.E., D.P.H., Cantab.). Medical Officer of Health.