[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Alton U.D.C.

  • Alton (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Alton U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Part 1 General Report of the Medical Officer of Health 1. General and Social. Alton Urban District is situated in N.E. Hampshire on the main London-Winches ter road. It comprises the town proper together with the outlying villages of Beech and Holybourne. In the days of Gilbert White in the late 18th century its population was about 2,500. It was chiefly noted for the manufacture of woollen clothing, which industry was largely carried on by the Quakers whose present meeting place in the town is the second oldest in England. Its main industry is now brewing. Light industry is well represented by clothing, artifical limb and instru- ment manufacturers. Some dairy, arable and pig farming is carried out in Beech and Holybourne. 2. Birth and Death Rate. The number of live births in th area was 146, giving a rate per 1,000 population of 16.6. The rate for 1958 was 17.6, and l'or 1957, 18.6. The average rate for the five years 1952-56 was 15.7 and 17.6 for 1947-51. The rate of 16.6 when adjusted by the comparability factor of 1.01 gives an adjusted live birth rate of 16.8. This compares with a birth rate for England and WalevS in 1959 of 16.5. Of live births 4.1% were illegitimate. The total number of deaths was 114 giving a crude death rate per 1,000 population of 12.9. The comparability factor is 0.96 and this gives an adjusted rate of 12.4. The crude death rate for England and Wales for 1959 was 11.6. It should be emphasised that with the comparatively small numbers involved in the Urban District many of these figures are not statistically significant and conclusions drawn from them may be misleading. 3. Infant Mortality Rate. There were 4 infant deaths (death under 1 year), two of these occurred during the first week of life. The infant mortality rate of 27.4 compares with that of England and Wales for 1959 of 22.0. No still births were recorded. Maternal Mortality. One death was recorded as being associated with childbirth, giving a rate per 1000 total live and stillbirths of 6.8. 4. Causes of Death. The main causes of death were cancer, 20 cases, diseases of the heart and arteries, 38 cases, vascular lesions of the nervous system, 14 cases. These accounted for nearly three quarters of deaths. Throughout England and Wales these groups of diseases are gradually increasing. They are usually considered as diseases of the elderly, and with the increasing number of elderly persons