[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Uxbridge UDC 1958].

  • Uxbridge (London, England). Urban District Council.
Date:
[1959]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Uxbridge UDC 1958]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/30 (page 2)
    The infectious disease figures need very little comment. 1958 was not a “ measles ” year, as there were only 343 cases notified as against 1,314 in 1957. There were no deaths from any of the common infectious diseases, and once again it is a pleasure to mention that there was no case of diphtheria in the district. The main vital statistics of the district are set out in the body of the report and are compared there with the various national rates. It will be seen that the total cancer rate for the district of 1-9 per 1,000 of the population is less than the national rate of 2T, but that the rate for cancer of the lung is a little above the national rate. In spite of all the research going on into this subject of lung cancer, the real answer seems to be no nearer, although there is no doubt that heavy cigarette smoking is a contributory cause, and this fact in itself points to a very easy preventive measure, well within the compass of the individual person. It should also be pointed out that the degenerative diseases of the heart and arteries are the cause of nearly twice as many deaths as those due to cancer. The infant mortality rate shows an unwelcome increase over that of the previous year, and in fact is higher than the national rate (29-6 as against 22-5). The causes of all these infant deaths are set out on page 6 and each case has been carefully analysed to see if any additional preventive measure could have been used. Most of them, however, are due to causes which are not yet fully understood and on which a great deal of research is still needed. One welcome feature during the year was the increasing interest being taken in the subject of safety in the home. Home accidents are now a much more serious cause of disability and indeed of death than infectious disease, and measures like guarding fires of all types and the provision of safe home appliances and equipment are to be encouraged. Manufacturers and retailers are now realising that safety is a help in selling, and the marketing— even if still very limited—of non-inflammable fabrics is a pointer in the right direction. The work of the Public Health Department has been some¬ what handicapped by illness and under-establishment, but on the whole it has gone on smoothly, mainly due to the excellent team spirit existing in the Department. My thanks are due to Mr. Baughan, the Chief Public Health Inspector, for his hard work and unfailing help whenever it has been required. Similarly, I must express my gratitude to the other members of the Public Health team for their excellent co-operation and support in helping to solve the various problems as they arise. The work, too, has been made easier by the help and co-operation received from the local general practitioners and hospitals. In conclusion, it is a pleasure to place on record how effective and encouraging has been