[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Oldbury Borough.

  • Oldbury (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Oldbury Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/72 (page 5)
    BOROUGH OF OLDBURY. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Medical Officer of Health. For the Year 1957. To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the Borough of Oldbury. Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present my annual report on the health of the Borough for the year 1957. Vital Statistics. Although both the Birth Rate and the Death Rate show little change from previous years, there are some significant changes in the causes of death. The most important is an increase from 18 to 27 in the total of deaths from cancer of the lung —- the highest rate ever recorded in Oldbury and an increase of 50 per cent, in one year. The general trend is for a continuing increase in the death rate from this cause. Now that evidence has shown beyond reasonable doubt a close relationship between cigarette smoking and the incidence of cancer of the lung every member of the pub¬ lic, young and old alike, should be made aware of the risks they are taking in persisting with this habit. A cigarette smoker is not only endangering his own life; by his example he encourages others to risk theirs. Those who are concerned with the education of adolescents, be they parents, teachers, doctors or clergymen have a special responsibility in this respect. To them I would say “It is never too late to stop.” A lead from them would soon be fol¬ lowed by the rest of the community. To the adolescents the mes¬ sage should be “Be Smart—don’t start.” Infant Mortality. The exceptionally low rate of 18.67 achieved in 1956 was not maintained. There were 19 infant deaths during the year giving a rate of 24.35 per 1,000 live births. This figure shows little dif¬ ference from the average rate for all towns in England and Wales, i.e. 23.5, and calls for no comment beyond reiterating what has