Rushden Research Group: Health & Sanitary Reports 1949

The Rushden Echo and Argus, May/Oct/Nov, 1949, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Health Reports & Sanitary Reports

13th May, 1949

M.O. Appeals to Mothers

Rushden’s Medical Officer (Dr. P. X. Bermingham) told the Urban Council on Wednesday that of 198 schoolchildren examined at routine medical inspections, only fifteen showed vaccination marks and 183 were not protected against smallpox.

Mentioning recent cases of smallpox in various parts of the country, Dr. Bermingham stated that the best age for primary vaccination was between three and six months. He urged that mothers should arrange for their babies to be treated.

Coun. H. Waring suggested that members of the Central Townswomen’s Guild who were attending the meeting should use their influence in this matter.

“When a person contracts smallpox there is little chance of treatment,” he said. “Prevention is the only hope.”

It was announced that a St. James’ Close tenant had now carried out the Council’s instructions to remove caged birds from one of his bedrooms.

Informed by the Surveyor (Mr. A. Millar) of the urgent need for repairs in Rushden High Street, the County Surveyor has replied that estimates for the current financial year include no allowance for such work. The County Surveyor adds in his letter that he will see if anything can be done in the interests of safety by lifting the channels, and that repairs will be made to defective places in the footpaths.

Coun. Sugars said the channels were very dangerous, especially to cyclists who got into the side of the road.

“No Right”

A letter from the Ministry of Food referred to a suggestion by the Trade Union Congress that a member of the Rushden Trades Council should be nominated to the Food Control Committee when the next vacancy arose. Asked for its reaction to this proposal, the Finance Committee expressed the opinion that no undertaking should be given which might limit the Council in its freedom of choice at the time when appointments are made. Any names suggested would then be considered, but the Council should consider the suitability of the persons concerned rather than membership of any organisation.

“This Council has no right to try and bind its successors,” said Coun. A. A. Allebone.

Housing Committee minutes mentioned that the Council has already selected a tenant for one of the Sartoris almshouses which are being handed over into its custody.

14th October, 1949

M.O. : Too Many Unfit Houses

(part of a longer report)

Far too many people in Rushden are still living in unfit houses or under overcrowded conditions, stated the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. P. X. Bermingham) in his annual report for 1948 to Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday.

The housing programme was progressing, he said, but there was still a great demand for new houses. At the end of the year there were 425 applicants for Council houses – 75 fewer than at the end of 1947.

Dr. Bermingham reported a lower death rate (11.27) and birth rate (17.34) than for the previous year, but there was an increase from 25.97 to 31.80 in the infant mortality rate.

Cancer

There were 283 live births during the year – 12 illegitimate – and 184 deaths.

Sixteen per cent. of the deaths in the town were due to cancer, 51 per cent. to heart diseases, eight per cent. to respiratory diseases and three per cent. to tuberculosis. Syphilis caused three deaths, including that of an infant.

Measles was the most prevalent infectious disease in 1948. There were 237 cases. Other notifications were: Scarlet fever 19, whooping cough 34, pneumonia 20, erysipelas five, tuberculosis 11.

454 Replaced

The sanitary inspector (Mr. H. W. Ellis) reported that the more hygienic system of refuse collection introduced into the town in 1948 – that of taking refuse direct to the freighters rather than emptying the dustbins into skips – revealed that many of the dustbins were unserviceable, and 454 replacements were made.

Thirty-nine visits were made to various shops, stores and warehouses, and more than 1¼ tons of foodstuffs were condemned as unfit for human consumption, in addition to more than 43 tons of meat and offal.

Coun. H. Waring, chairman of the Health Committee, said he regretted that more people had not taken advantage of the mass-radiography service. Referring to possible unrevealed cases of tuberculosis, he deprecated “the vulgar habit of spitting.”

14th October, 1949 (part of a longer report)

Ice Cream

Coun. E. E. Newell referred to the 16 ice cream samples examined, seven had been found “unsatisfactory.”

“I think it is a very serious matter,” he said, “and I do suggest that we take strong steps.”

The sanitary inspector (Mr. H. W. Ellis) replied that the method of testing was new, and the samples had to be regarded over a period.

Three cases of tuberculosis were mentioned in the Medical Officer’s report. There were 18 births and 15 deaths during the month.

11th November, 1949 (part of a longer report)

No Need For Alarm

The Medical Officer (Dr. P. X. Bermingham), reported that three cases of poliomyelitis had occurred during the four weeks ended October 29th.

“The public can be sure that there is no cause for alarm,” said Coun. H. Waring, chairman of the Health Committee.

Minutes of the Council in committee revealed that property owners in Hall Avenue had instructed solicitors to issue a writ against the estate developer with a view to the road being made up to the satisfaction of the Council.

Coun. A. A. Allebone mentioned that members of the Highways Committee had inspected a new television relay system and found it satisfactory. It was not yet in commercial use, but the committee were making specific proposals for a relay service without in any way committing themselves.

Health & Sanitary Reports