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MELTHAM than District Council I
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_ Annual Report
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
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FOR THE YEAR
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Annual Report OF THE
Medical Officer of Health For the Year 1937.
Dudd House, Meltham. June, 1938. To the Chairman and Members of the Meltham Urban District Council. Mr. Chairman, Miss Haigh and Gentlemen, I have the honour of presenting for your consideration my Annual Report on the health and sanitary circumstances of your district for the year 1937.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS.
The Public Health Officers of the Council during the year were :— Dr. Robert Gellatly, M.D.C.M., Medical Officer of Health; Mr. S. Cooper’ Drabble, M.S.1.A., Sanitary Inspector to 30th June, 1937; Mr. R. G. Suddick, Sanitary Inspector from 20th September, 1937. The appointment of Medical Officer of Health is a part- time one. The Sanitary Inspector is also Building Surveyor and Water Engineer to the Council and devotes his whole time to the duties of those offices. A contribution to the salaries of the Officers is made
by the County Council under arrangement with the Ministry of Health.
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA. AREA.—tThe area of the district is 5,134 acres. POPULATION.—The population at the 1931 Census was 5,051, and the Registrar-General’s estimate of the resident population at the middle of 1937 is 4,711. The number of inhabited houses at the end of 1937, according to the Rate Book, was 1,594.
RAINFALL during the year, 40.54 inches.
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The rateable value of the district on the lst April, 1937, was £25,648, and a penny rate produced £100 9s. 2d. for 193%,
The principal industries now carried on in the district are cotton thread weaving, woollen manufacture, silk dress- ing, brick making, mixed farming and poultry keeping. The industries carried on in the district cannot be said to be detrimental to the health of those engaged therein.
VITAL STATISTICS.
{ Total mM. F.) Birth Rate per 1,000 LIVE Legitimate.. 53 23 30 of the estimated
Illegitimate. 2 1 1 resident popula- tion 11-67
eke 3 1 2) Rate per 1,000 total STILL BIRTHS O O Of Lave & Stil Births)
I 545.
DEATHS aa ek ais 77 31 46 Death Rate per 1,000 of the estimated resi- dent population 16°3
The Births for 1937 show little alteration from the year 1936, but Deaths have increased. Of the total deaths it is noticeable that 28 are due to heart disease.
aaa Rate per 1,000 total Deaths from Puerperal causes: Tee Puerperal Sepsis ... ok ae a et: ioe NG: Orier Puerperal Causes... a or Bs Ste Ota. ss bids hi. ie) ug
Death Rate of Infants under one year of age :— All infants, per 1,000. Live Births .... as sia, ede Legitimate Infants per 1,000 Legitimate Live Births 56.6
Illegitimate Infants per 1,000 Illegitimate Live Births Nil.
Deaths from Cancer (all ages) ... se i 8 Deaths from Measles (all ages) ... Anh: oA eal, Deaths from Whooping Cough (all cme Nd.
Deaths from Diarrhoea (under 2 years of age)... a
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The causes of death were :— M. F. Diphtheria Hi ve moe Influenza ... air 2 Tuberculosis of Respiratory System.. 2 Cancer, Malignant Disease... io 2 Diabetes A a 2 1 Cerebral Hemorrhage ea re: 7 Heart Disease ... re 23 Other Circulatory Diseases oe aes I Appendicitis a eit ae see I Pneumonia (all forms)... on Other Respiratory Diseases... 0) Peptic Ulcer ams x aii hie Other Digestive ae a. a 1 Acute and Chronic Nephritis... saad Cirrhosis of Liver ws a were Other Liver Diseases ... Fre ae Cerebro-Spinal Fever ... ae ) Congenital Debility, Premature birth, Malformations, etc. oa 0) eenity ..: ae oe 2a he 1 Violence ... ae cage ) Other Boe ee D Suicide... “4 on ye 1 Bronchitis... a ee om eee 1
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA. There are no developments or changes since my last Annual Report.
Water Supply.
During the year the water supply has been satisfactory and, with a supply of 6,155,000 gallons purchased from Hud- dersfield Corporation, adequate.
The Council’s supply was analysed six times during the year and found to be satisfactory. Sewerage and Drainage.
The sewage works functioned satisfactorily and without complaint throughout the year. Minor improvements have been carried out with a view to promoting smoother working.
Rivers and Streams.
No action found necessary in regard to pollution.
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4 Closet Accommodation. Twenty-six conversions during the year. The closets cf each type remaining at the end of 1937 are :— Total. Private. Common.
Water Closets tees QDS ec) eee Earth Closets ac: ss ee 1D Sak 66 Tub Closets ... 32) 168) OR Lu: 62 1221 908 313
The Council supply ash bins on request to property owners at a small margin above cost price.
Public Cleansing. This essential public service is carried out by direct labour, and requires the full time services of four men, com- prising a driver and two loaders on the motor waggon, and one man on the tip. In addition, certain ashpits inaccessible to the motor are emptied periodically by the cartman and another workman, some 206 cartloads of refuse being collected in this way. The amount of refuse handled by the cleansing staff is considerable, amounting to over 1,650 tons in the year, more than one ton per house, and equal to six tons per working day. In the collection of this total, some 5,000 miles were covered by the motor waggon. The refuse is disposed of at the Wood Bottom tip on the controlled system. Towards the end of the year arrangements were made to salvage tins and scrap metal, and these are disposed of by contract. While the price realised is not great, the amount of valuable space saved in the tip and the better consolidation obtained are in themselves a justification of the arrangement. The total cost of removal and disposal of the refuse for the past year was £759 Os. Od.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
INSPECTIONS. ieee NOTICES. = I Outstand- NATURE. Number. |Informal.| Formal. |Complied I ing at end \ with. of year, Infectious Diseases.... 14 aaa a he ses) DASIMPCCUION 18 ee = 5 al a Ordinary Nuisances .. 141 57 eek 53 4 Dwemnm@es 94 4) “de 41 ot Coweheds 05-5535 <0 270 21 a 20 1 Bakehowuses La: 36 8 Edt 8 a Slaughter Houses .... 116 — mon oops Privies and Pail Closets 120 49 = 49 ae Workshops, Workplaces 140 mes an ae ae a5 sc aie ee 4 Sa be ee
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Shops Act. Ventilation and Temperature.
The usual inspections have been made, but no action was found necessary.
Smoke Abatement.
Observations have been taken of certain chimneys in the area during the year. The amount of smoke given out was not such as to justify any formal action by the Council. Experiments are being made at certain premises in an attempt to reduce the amount and density of smoke emitted.
Swimming Baths.
There are none in the area at present.
Schools.
The following are the particulars relating to the water
supply to the Schools in the area, viz. :—
Meltham ... ... .... Water from Council’s Main. Meltham Mills ... Do. Ls oy. ase Do. Wilshaw ... ........ Water from Private Supply.
It has not been found necessary during the year to close any schools for the purpose of checking the spread of in- fectious disease.
Factories, Workshops and Workplaces.
These have been visited during the year and found to be satisfactory.
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6 HOUSING. STATISTICS:
Number of new Houses erected during the year:
(a) Total (including numbers given separately
under (b) ) (b) With State assistance under the Housing Acts :— (1) By the Local Authority... ae (Il) By other bodies or persons... rine
Inspection of Dwelling-Houses during the year.
1. (a) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing defects (under Public Health or Housing Acts) ... ma ae Aa oo ee
(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose 94 2. (a) Number of dwelling-houses which were in- spected and recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925 ads wien. MD (b) Number of inspections made for the purpose 40 3. Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state
so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation ae .. MLD
4. Number of dwelling-houses found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation 26
Remedy of Defects during the Year without service of Formal Notices. Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit
in consequence of informal action of the Local Authority or their Officers ... ee
Action under Statutory Powers during the Year.
A.—Proceedings under Sections 9, 10 and 16 of the Housing Act, 1936 :— (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring repairs (2) Number of dwelling-houses which were ren- dered fit after service of formal notices :— (a). By. owners (b) By Local Authority in ce of owners nee
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7 B.—Proceedings under Public Health Acts :— (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served requiring defects to be remedied... (2) Number of dwelling-houses in which defects were remedied after service of formal notices :— (a) By owners i a ea (b) By Local Authority in default of owners ‘ae bi
C.—Proceedings under Sections 11 and 13 of the Housing Act, 1936 :— (1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which Demolition Orders were made
(2) Number of dwelling-houses demolished in pursuance of Demolition Orders
D.—Proceedings under Section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936 :— (1) Number of separate tenements or under- ground rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were made (2) Number of separate tenements or under- ground rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were determined, the tenement or room having been rendered fit
Housing Act, 1936. Overcrowding. (a) (1) Number of dwellings overcrowded at the end of the year sa ae as (11) Number of families dwelling therein (111) Number of persons dwelling therein (b) Number of new cases of overcrowding reported during the year , (c) (1) Number of cases of overcrowding relieved during the year is (11) Number of persons concerned in such cases
(d) Particulars of any cases in which dwelling- houses have again become overcrowded after the
Local Authority have taken steps for the abate-
ment of overcrowding... ia rea
11 62
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8 INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
(a).—MILk SUPPLY.
There are two Accredited producers in the area. The local Co-operative Society also sell sterilised milk. The supply and distribution of the milk is in the hands of the
producers, the farmers.
Inspection of the dairies and cowsheds is carried out regularly. The West Riding C.C’s Veterinary Inspector also visits in connection with inspection of milch cows.
(b) Meat, &c. Towards the end of the year a regular system of meat inspection was initiated, and the Sanitary Inspector inspects every animal slaughtered in the area. The following par- ticulars are for the period 20th September to 31st December :
TE EAS ESSE
Cattle Sheep I
excluding I Cows. I Calves. and Pigs. Cows. Lambs. Nat ber led. 82 22 6 ATL. 1S Number inspected ............ 82 22 6 aa 145 All Diseases (excepting 'Tub- erculosis) whole carcases COMGEMMNE 4.4: ee — ~ — Carcases of which some part or organ was condemned 4 ~~ 1 i Percentage of number inspect- ed affected with disease other than Tuberculosis.| 441% I -- — |0:58%| Tuberculosis only - Whole carcases condemned — a aoe — 1 Carcases of which some part or organ was condemned 9 — —— _— 13 Percentage of the number inspected affected with . LOA, ~~ a — |103%
Visits have been paid to shops and stores in the district, and, generally speaking, these are well kept.
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There are four bakehouses in the district. The premises have been inspected by the Sanitary Inspector and, with one exception, are clean and satisfactory.
There has been no reported cases of Food Poisoning during the year. (c).—ADULTERATION, &C. The Council is not the Local Authority under the Food and Drugs Act, etc., ete.
ae
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Arrangements have been made to obtain a supply of Diphtheria Anti-toxin at the Isolation Hospital.
The recently developed artificial methods of immuniza- tion against diphtheria have been used both privately and by the County Council at Schools and Clinics.
Prevalence of disease at Schools is notified by the School Attendance Officer, and action taken.
The District was free from any serious outbreak of non- notifiable infectious disease during the year.
pantie pio
Notifiable Diseases (other than Tuberculosis) during the year 1937.
bisease. Totes enon eee Scart 2. oc os 10 ) Dp er R565. oe Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis ANALYSIS.
Under... 1-5 5-10 10-15 15-20| 20-45) 45 and over Scarlet Fever...... 2 6 ~ Diphtheria,....... — I - —|-—- Cerebro-Spinal I I Meningitis. . )
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10 TUBERCULOSIS
During the year two deaths were registered in the
district as due to Tuberculosis.
New Cases and Mortality during 1937.
hoe NEW CASES. DEATHS. Periods. |~ Non-Pulmonary. Pulmonary, Non-Pulmonary F. M. rH. Hoe) OM: F. 5 ee eee Dk th? eh ss WO ea ee 10 ssc GINO am ile ay |e ekg A I ee I Kee 15 = Spe Ee Se 1 eet ae a 25 1 32 ASA A Se ee 35 eas Bae eer bate ah ee 45 Pe Pee ee We ee I a es 55 tT sic =e pee Sele ted een 65 — — ~~ — — — — — Total 2 1 Wee 1{
The notification of tuberculosis is satisfactory.
ee
PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS.
No action taken during the year.
In conclusion I should like to pay a tribute to the Chair- man and Members of the Council, the Clerk and Officials for the assistance and courtesy extended to me during the year, and to the Sanitary Inspector for his loyal co-operation in
my work. i ina, Miss Haigh and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
R. GELLATLY.
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Birth-rates, Death-rates, of Mortality, Maternal Death-rates, and Case-rates for certain Infectious Diseases in the year 1937.
Analysis England and Wales,
London 125 Great Towns and 148 Smaller Towns.
(Provisional Figures based on Weekly and Quarterly Returns).
I us 125 England ee See . London ped I I re a 50,000 at London 1931 Census) Rates per 1 {000 Fopulation. Births— ie a Live 149 I 149 15'3 Still 0-60 I 0°67 0:64 0:54 Deaths=— I All Causes 124 I 125 ig 12°3 Typhoid and ‘ Paratyphoid Fevers f di oe = Smallpox ... oa a a3 — we Measles 0:02 0:03 0:02 0-01 Scarlet Fever ; 0:01 0-01 0-01 0:01 Whooping er 0:04 0:04 0:03 0:06 Diphtheria : 0:07 0:08 0:05 0:05 Influenza .. 0°45 0°39 0:42 0°38 Violence 0°54 0-45 0-42 0:51 Notifications— Sinallpox . 0°00 I 0:00 Scarlet Fever 235 I 2°56 2 42 2'09 Diphtheria 1:49 I 181 1:38 1-93 Knteric Fever OOS I 0:06 0:04 0:05 Erysipelas Osi I 043 I 0:34 0:44 Pneumonia 1:36 I i 1:20 1:18 Rates per 1,000 Live Births. Deaths under 1 year of age.. 58 62 55 60 Deaths from Diarrhcea me Enteritis under 2 years Tr 5:2 12:0 of age aa sak Maternal Mortality— Puerperal Sepsis... 0:97 Others 2°26 Not available Total 3°23
Maternal Mortality— I Puerperal Sepsis... Others me ‘Total
Notifications—
Puerperal Fever on Puerperal Pyrexia
— eee
Rates per 1,000 Total Births (ie. Live & Still)
0-94 2:17
13°93
Not available
17:59 11°52 I
4:15 14:34