Extensive reference to the question of housing is contained in the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health to the Rushden Urban District Council (Dr. O. A. J. N. Muriset, M.B.)

His remarks, together with other details in the report are given below.

Statistics

Statistics are as follows: Population (1921 census), 13,511; estimated population, 1929 and 1930, 14,020; number of inhabited houses (1921) 3,076, in 1930, 3,622; number of families or separate occupiers (1921) 3,361, in 1930, 4,577; rateable value, December, 1930, £58,704; sum represented by penny rate, £229.

Overcrowding

The report draws attention to the fact that there was only an increase of three in the number of inhabited houses from 1929 to 1930. The actual number erected was 23, but the increase was counteracted by the fact that a number of houses were demolished, etc. Since 1925 the number of inhabited houses increased by 381. The number of separate occupiers for 1930 shows an increase of 274 over that for 1929, and an increase of 512 over that for 1925. There is still a considerable disparity, the report points out, between the number of inhabited houses and the number of separate occupiers, which means that the question of overcrowding has not yet been solved. The Medical Officer expresses the hope, however, that as the number of houses erected by the Council is steadily increasing, the overcrowding should, before long, practically disappear.

381 New Houses

Dr. Muriset adds: The houses in the town are of the most part comparatively modern brick-built houses of the artisan-cottage type. In years gone by very little attention was paid to town-planning, but the question of town-planning has received greater attention in the construction of houses in recent years. There is still a considerable amount of rather old property in the town but some of the houses in poorest condition have recently been demolished. There appears still to be a considerable shortage of houses, but this is being steadily dealt with by the rapid erection of Council houses. Since 1925 at least 381 new houses have been erected.

Provision of Baths

In view of the rapid erection of Council houses in the district the question of overcrowding is by no means as common as it was a few years ago.

Besides the Council houses a large number of private residences have been erected in the last few years. The standard of houses in the town is on the whole good. As already stated a number of the older houses have lately been demolished. All the recently built houses are provided with baths.

Lowest Death Rate

During the year there were 191 live births registered, of which 100 were males and 91 females.

The report states that the local rate compares favourably with recent years, being an increase over 1929. There were no deaths ……. women in consequence of childbirth.

During the past seven years (since 1924) the birth rate in Rushden has been 14.4, 15.31, 15.38, 12.84, 12.74, 12.41, and 13.62. In every case the rate is below that for England and Wales.

There were 121 deaths during the year and of these 63 were males and 58 females, the death rate being 8.63. This, states the report, is extremely satisfactory, as it is the lowest figure recorded in the town, and compares with that for 1929, and with the rate of 11.4 for England and Wales.

The death rate during the past seven years in Rushden has been 9.81, 10.0, .. ?., 10.25, 10.69, 9.05, and 8.63.

Infantile Mortality

The infantile mortality rate was the satisfactory figure of 36.64. The actual number of deaths of children less than one year was seven.

This year’s figure is the lowest recorded in the town since 1926, when the extraordinary low rate of 28.84 was recorded. The report adds: “A maternity child welfare centre was established in 1930 and it is felt that the work of this centre has probably had something to do with year’s improvement. The local figure compares favourably with that for England and Wales, namely 60. For the past seven years the local infantile mortality has been 55.55, 61.61, 57.47, 57.17, 51.72, and 36.64.

Tuberculoses and Cancer

Tuberculoses were the cause of death in eight cases during the year, this being the lowest figure recorded, and giving a mortality rate of .57. The number of deaths in the past eight years from tuberculoses has been: 1923, 17; 1924; 15; 1925, 15; 1926, 12; 1927, 19; 1928, 13; 1929, 12; 1930, 8. Pulmonary tuberculoses were responsible for deaths in seven cases.

There were 11 deaths from cancer, being a mortality rate of .78. The report states that this is a remarkable improvement compared with the 21 deaths from cancer in 1929, and it is the lowest figure since 1924. Unfortunately the Medical Officer has felt bound to add that the sudden drop is so remarkable that one can hardly expect that it will be maintained in future years. Of the eleven cases of death from cancer, four were in males, and seven in females.

There were 31 deaths from heart disease, three suicides, and three other deaths from violence. The local death rate from 1923 onwards has been 9.49, 9.81, 10.01, 9.68, 10.25, 10.18, 9.65, and 8.63.

“Comparatively Healthy Year”

The Medical Officer states: “1930 may be regarded as having been a comparatively healthy year. At the beginning of the year there was an outbreak of measles amongst children attending infants’ schools, three of which were closed for a short period. The outbreak which never assumed really serious proportions could hardly be called an epidemic. Scarlet fever and erysipelas have been a little more prevalent than in previous years. For a short period chicken-pox was made notifiable on account of the appearance of a case of small-pox.

Isolation at Home

“During the last five years apart from an outbreak of diphtheria in 1927, the town has been remarkably free from any serious epidemic. Influenza has visited the town annually.

“I would again here like to mention in passing that the question of isolation in their own homes of children suffering from infectious disease is still regarded too lightly. If parents would only pay a little attention to this matter, I am sure that the spread of much of the infectious disease would be minimised.”

Health Services

The Medical Officer makes extensive reference to the provision of health services in the area and notes the three hospitals which have continued their useful work. For nine weeks during the summer a patient was in the small-pox hospital. The Cottage Hospital has also carried on its excellent work, while for cases requiring in-patient treatment, Northampton and Bedford hospitals have been extensively used. At Rushden House Sanatorium, which has accommodation for 70 patients, an average of 69.6 beds were occupied during the year.

“No local Infectious Diseases Hospital has yet been established, but although the town has during the past years been fairly free from infectious disease usually treated in such an Institution, I am still of opinion that the establishment of an Infectious Diseases Hospital will require serious consideration in the near future,” states Dr. Muriset.

Infant Welfare

Dr. Muriset also pays tribute to the work of the Rushden and District Motor Ambulance, the Orthopaedic Clinic connected with the Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital, and to the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, established during the year, which serves Higham Ferrers as well as Rushden. The report draws attention to the large number of mothers who avail themselves of the clinic, and states that the advice and help given is already beginning to bear fruit.

Special mention is also made of the Rushden Tuberculosis After-Care Committee, and the great deal of work it has accomplished in the town.

Throughout the year the Rushden Nursing Association has carried on the work of the nursing of the sick in their own homes and has for this purpose retained the services of one fully trained district nurse who is also a certified midwife.

Brook and Sewage Effluent

Referring to the brook running through the town the report says: “Where it passes through the inhabited parts of the town it is for the most part culverted. Where it is open the bed is bricked and this enables it to be kept in a thoroughly sanitary condition. After leaving the town the brook passes close to the Sewage Works and there receives the sewage effluent. It eventually flows into the Nene on the northern boundary of the Urban District.”

Sewage Disposal and Scavenging

The average annual amount of sewage dealt with at the Sewage Works is 154,380,445 gallons.

During the year house refuse was collected weekly by four carts and 3,854 loads were carried.

Milk Supply

On this subject Dr. Muriset states: “The milk supply appears to be quite adequate in amount and the methods of distribution have improved in a remarkable way in the last few years. A number of traders now deliver milk in sterilised bottles, graded milk is obtainable from one trader and pasteurised milk is also procurable.”

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Inspector’s Report - Sanitary

The report of the Sanitary Inspector, Mr. F. S. F. Piper, M.S.I.A., C.R.S.I., states that in a progressive town like Rushden, the Public Health Department receives numerous complaints which shows the confidence of the town in the department.

During the year official action was taken in 128 cases.

Housing Defects

During the year, 140 houses were inspected under the Public Health and Housing Acts, 38 of this number being recorded under the Housing Consolidated Regulations, 1925. 429 defects were found, the majority being due to dilapidated and decaying walls, etc. A number of voluntary improvements were carried out during the year by a few owners and occupiers.

Schools

Schools were inspected on ten occasions and in one or two cases faults were found with the sanitary conveniences and these were kept much cleaner after the usual notices.

In another instance one of the schools got in a very dirty condition and it was found necessary to take the matter up with the Education Authority. All rooms in the school were ultimately cleaned and distempered, much to the benefit of teacher and scholar.

Total Inspections

The total number of inspections from all duties was 1,815 as compared with 1,599 for the year 1929, an increase of 216. 171 preliminary notices or letters, 68 cautionary letters and 8 statutory notices have been despatched.

During the year 474 visits were made to food premises, 269 being to slaughter-houses.