[Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Clevedon U.D.C.

  • Clevedon (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1950
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Clevedon U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH for the Urban District of Clevedon for the year 1950« Mr. Chairman, Lady and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present to you a report upon the health and 'sanitary- conditions of the Urban District for the year 1950 and to include therein extracts from your Sanitary Inspector's report for the same period. In spite of the almost complete absence of summer weather followed by a wet and rather cold winter the general health of the people has been fairly well maintained and there has been no serious epidemic visitation. Whooping cough, which was smouldering during the early months of the year assumed epidemic proportions from June onwards but was not attended by any fatalities though same cases gave rise to considerable anxiety. Then in December measles appeared and spread in increasing numbers into the new year. While there has again been no case of diphtheria it is hoped that parents and guardians will not become complaisant but will continue to have their children immunised against this serious disease. The figures for local and national efforts conclusively demonstrate the control which this protective method has exercised over the incidence and mortality of this disease. It is unfortunately not possible to report a similar readiness to protect children and the community against smallpox, by vaccination. In common with the rest of the country we have to record a quota of Poliomyelitis during the year when four cases were notified, foxtunately without fatality. They were all ma.' es aged 14, 17, 41 and 46. Though no definite contacts could be established all but the youngest were presumably infected outside the town. The corrected local Death Rate is 11.|| per thousand as compared with 11,6 for the whole country and we have the high average age at death of 72.3 years. The composition of the local population is further reflected in the corrected Birth Rate of 14.3 compared with 15.8 for the whole country. The public water supply is ample in quantity and has regularly been found to be pure in quality though chlorination is regarded as a necessary precaution against contamination in the catchment area. There is a piped supply to the whole district though in one hamlet it is not laid on to all the individual houses. The main sewerage system in the lower part of the town to which a considerable new load has been added from the new housing estates is under review at the moment and will call for very serious consideration and probable reconstruction Some flooding in this part of the town during the winter and spring has caused great nuisance and hardship and is now being dealt with. The refuse dump which has given trouble in the past still calls for attention to prevent nuisance from flies and offensive smell. Fortunately negotiations for the lease of a new dump far removed from human habitation are almost completed, which will solve a difficult modern problem. I have pleasure in acknowledging with thanks the ready help and co-operation of all members of your staff and also of my colleagues and of the County and Bristol Health authorities. I .have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, G. MACLEOD 30th June 1951