[Report 1904] / Medical Officer of Health, Patrington R.D.C.

Patrington (England). Rural District Council.

Date:: 1904

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1904] / Medical Officer of Health, Patrington R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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WITH DR COATES’ COMPLIMENTS Bleak House. Patrington, January, 1905. To the District Council of Patrington. I piesent iny ninth annual report dealing with the health of 'this district for the year ending December 31st, 1901. The population of the district is estimated at 6,998. The number of births 'has been 163. Out of tms 7 were illegitimate, a proportion of 1 in 23.28. compared with 1 in 13.8 in 1903, 1 in 15.9 in 1902, and 1 in 11.1 in 1901. This is a marked improvement. The total number of males born in 1901 was 88, and the number of females 75. The birth-rate of 1904 is 23.29 per 1,000, compared with 27.76 in 1903, and 25.02 in 1902. The average for the last ten years is 23.14, and lor England and Wales 28.5. The births took place as follows:— First Second Third Fourth Quarter. Quarter. Quarter. Quarter. Males .... 11 ... 25 .... 19 .... 33 Females .. 14 .... 21 .... 22 .... 18 Ninety children were vaccinated out of these births. During: the past year 106 persons have died, viz., 50 males and 56 females. This is at the rate of 15.11 per 1,000, compared with 13.30 in 1903, 13.15 in 1902, and 14.22 the aver¬ age for the past ten years. This is very favourable if compared with the rest of England, the average death-rate of the 76 large towns being 17.3. The average death-rate of Hull for the past 30 years is 19.4. The average age at death of this destrict is for males 48.4 years, and for females 43.91 years. The average age of all deaths is 46 years 13.7 days, compared with 44 years 2 months in 1903. The average duration of life in England is 45 years 3 months. The healthiest European nations are Sweden and Norway, where the average life is 50 years. The unhealthiest are Prussia with 39 years, Bavaria with 36 years, and Spain with 32 years. The relative number of deaths at the various ages come out at: — Under 1 year . 19 Average per 1,000. 110.42 Average for England and Wales.. 150 Avenge for East Riding . 118 Average for E.R. rural districts.. 114 Average for 10 years . 123.38 Average for E. R. 7 years (189,6- 1902| . 123 Over 1 year and under 5 years. 5 Over 5 years and under 15 years .. 3 Over 15 years and under 25 years . 6 Over 25 years and under 65 years. 27 Over 65 years . 46 Seven inquests have been held during 1904, 3 from natural causes, 3 from accidents, and 1 suicide. One death was returned uncer¬ tified, at Thorngumbald; and one person not belonging to the district was washed ashore. The following have been the chief causes of death:—Measles, T; epidemic influenza, 1, diarrhoea, 1; phthisis, 13; other tubercular diseases, 1-; cancer, 7; bronchitis, 12; pneu¬ monia, 4; premature birth, 7; heart diseases, 22; accidents, 3; suicide, 1; and all otlipr causes, 30. No deaths took place in Halsham, Hilston, Outnewton, Owstwiek, Owthorne, or Waxholme during 1904, but 1 'person died in the Hull Eoya-1 infirmary from Waxholme. The deaths took place as follows: — First Second1 Third Fourth Quarter. Quarter. Quarter. Quarter. Males . 33 ... 18 12 _ 9 Females .. 11 17 .... 7 ... 19 Following my general rule, t append a tab'e showing at a glance (1) the births, (2) the deaths, (3) the average death-rate, (4) the average birth-rate, and (5) the average age at death in the following parishes:— Births. Deaths. Death rate per 1,000 Birth rate per 1,000 Average age at death. Bmtswick . 6 8 16.80 12.60 52.50 Bui ton Pidsea .. 8 2 7.04 28.16 42.64 Easinglon . . 10 4 11.11 27.77 49.41 Frcdingham . 4 1 14.28 57.14 0.05 HrJsham . 2 0 0. 9.09 0. Hilston . 1 0 0. 35.71 0. Hollym .. 2 9.38 28.16 38.5 Kolmpton . 2 7 41.17 11.76 39.28 Keyingbair. . . 11 2 3.65 20.10 49. Kilnsea . 4 1 7.69 30.76 0.75 Ottiingham . . 1 1 7 15.09 23.70 27.5 Outnewton . 1 0 0. 27.77 0. Ovstwick . 3 0 0. 37.50 0. Owthorne .. 0 0 0. 0. 0. Patrington. . . 26 23 21.69 24.52 48.69 Pa iti ngton U nion. 0 8 18.18 0. 75. Pa nil . . 14 4 7.06 24.73 70. Rims well . 5 1 7.24 36.23 0.25 Roos . 9 11 25.34 20.73 59.46 Ryehiill . 6 6 27.27 27.27 33.33 Slteffling . 2 1 7.24 14.49 60. Sunk Island . 6 3 8.24 16.48 74.66 Thorngumbald ... 5 8 29.44 18.38 34.3 Tuns tall . 4 1 9.80 39.21 .06 Waxholme . 0 0 0. 0. 0. Wei wick ... . 10 5 17.85 35.71 32.58 Wiiestead . 7 1 6.41 44.37 18. Compared with this, the following table shows the average for the past ten years, 1895-1904: Avge Deaths Under Avge Avge Avge One Pop. Births. Deaths. Year. Burst wick . 454.2 13.6 6.5 1.3 Burton Pidsea . 328.7 7.6 3.5 1.1 Easington . 375.4 10.6 5.4 1.2 Frudingham . 67.9 2.3 0. 0. Hi-] sham . .. 234.8 4.3 3.1 .4 Hilston . 35.1 .2 .4 0. Hollym . .. 251.2 5.6 2.5 .6 Holmpton . 190.1 3.1 2.1 .4 Keyingham . .. 567.7 13.2 9.8 2.7 Ki'lnsea . 152.6 3.9 2.5 .8 Ottringham . 498.4 10.4 7.2 1.7 Outnewton . 40.7 .8 .3 0. Owstwiek . 86.3 2.4 .4 0. Owthorne . 90.7 2.0 .9 .2 Paitringtou . .. 1,118.4 22.2 17.6 3.2 Patrington Union .... 48.8 2.5 6.4 .2 Pauli . .. 554.4 16.9 7.2 2.0 Rims well . 126.0 4.6 1.7 .5 10.1 6.4 .8 Rvehill . .. 248.7 5.9 2.9 .7 Skeffling . 136.7 3.2 2.2 3 Sunk Island . .. 422.4 8.2 2.7 .9 Thorngumbald . 284.8 8.2 4.3 .7 Tunstall .. .. 114.1 2.0 .6 .1 Waxholme . 67.3 1.8 1.2 .1 Wed wick . . . 304.8 6.9 4.9 1.0 Winestead . .. 147.0 3.5 1.7 0. The number of inhabited houses m the district is 1,622; the average number of people per house is 4.31 , fci the whole of the East Biding 4.5. The acreage is 61,420 for this dis¬ trict; the density of the population is one person to 8.7 acres, compared with 7.7 the East Biding rural average, and five acres the entire Biding average The infantile mortality is slightly less this year, but 3 of the illegitimate children have died out of the 7 born—a much too high rate. Only 21 cases of notifiable infectious diseases have been notified to me dining 1904, viz., diphtheria 5, erysipelas 9, scarlet fever 5, enteric fever 2. Thase were spread over ten parishes Death resulted in one case of measles; the percentage of mortality is .04 per 1,000, a very gratifying condition com¬ pared with the lest of the country, and a great improvement on past years, for in 1903 66 cases were notified, in 1902 61, and m 1901 40, the average being 55.5. The diphtheritic cases were sporadic, and the water could not be blamed for the enteric cases. During the year, however, a great number of children have had whooping cough, measles, and chicken-pox. 133 cases have been notified to me by teacher's, and in con¬ sequence Thorngumbald school was closed for 28 days, Pauli for II days, and Patrington school was closed a few days before the holidays. The principle of exclusion of scholars a. d ail children from infected houses has been carried out largely this year, and if prompt action was always taken to notify cases it might be umiecesary to close schools. The special exclusion of scholars is prefer¬ able to closure of the schools. Anthrax has been notified as existing during March in Patrington parish; during July in Keyingham; and miring September in Ottringham. No means of isolation exists in this district for cases of scarlet fever or small-pox, i.e., in the form of special buildings. The question of providing free anti- dip htheritic serum is one many Councils have considered, and might with advantage be adopted by your Council. It is not a great expense, and it is advocated by the County Council. The cancer rate this year is still very high, 1 in 15.14 of the deaths compared with 1 in 13.2 last year and 1 in 14 in 1963. The rate for Great Britain is 1 in 30. The average age of death from cancer in this district is 58 years for males and 73 years for females; the average for both sexes is 71 years compared with 66 years last year. The average age of death amongst heart cases is 65 years. The lung diseases—i.e., bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, and phthisis—averaged 39 years 10 months each. Consumption in this district has been very high this year; 13 cases as com¬ pared with 5 last year. Government inspectors have visited this district during November to inquire into the water supply of this district, presumably in 1 connection with the Withernsea district. With the exception of Sunk Island, where the condi¬ tions are such that no local supply can be obtained, the district is well supplied with water; if not of the best potable quality, yet of fair condition. If more care was exercised in the disposal of sewage matter’—that is, if quantities of manure were not allowed to ac¬ cumulate in close proximity to wells - there whuld be less cause to grumble at the waters. In nearly every case of water contaminated with sewage matter, examined during the past ten years, there has been gross carelessness in allowing the manure to be in near relationship to the water. Fourteen nuisances were complained of dur¬ ing 1904, and 44 nuisances were inspected in addition. It was not necessary to proceed by summons in any case. One well water was analysed, and found good. Nine workshops are registered under the Factory and Workshop Act. They have been periodically inspected, and found in good sajuitary condition. I have not received any complaints about them. Thirty-four cowsheds are registered, and have been duly examined. No defects have been found. On and after April 1st no pei-son will be allowed to act as a midwife at all, or to call herself so. unless she shall be properly qualified, and also registered by the local authority. Such certificate of registration must be- renewed every January. The penalty for practising without is JB5. Nothing has been attempted yet in flic matter of flushing the drains of Patrington. The cost of doing this would not lie great, and it would mean all the difference between safety and danger; at present the system is inefficient. In spite of a decreasing birth-rate, this district is about the same in regard to popula¬ tion as last year, and if the high cancer-rate was excluded (it certainly does not attack early, as the average age is over 70), the area would be one of the healthiest in England. As it is, the death-rate is much lower than the rest of England, and the general health presumably higher than the average of the country. W. H. COATES, Medical Officer of Health and Analyst, M.A.. M.B.. M.B.C.S., L.E.C.P.. L.S.A.. L.S.Se., F.C.S., Bai rister-at-Law.