Births and Deaths Go Down
The lowest infant mortality rate recorded at Rushden since 1899, was reported by Dr. P. X. Bermingham (Medical Officer of Health) in his annual report for the year 1951, at Wednesday’s Urban Council meeting – the rate was 5.02 per 1,000 live births, as compared with 44.05 for the previous year. In 1899 it was 105.8.
There were 218 deaths in the town during 1951 – a decrease of four on the previous year – and 199 live births, a decrease of 28 on 1950 and the lowest number of births on record for 10 years.
Mr. Humphrey Ellis (Senior Sanitary Inspector) said the year’s chief step in health work was the sewering of the St. Crispin Estate. Milk and ice-cream samples were better than for many years; 57 tons of diseased meat had been prevented from reaching the tables.
“I think the time has come,” he added, “when we shall really have to tackle some slum clearance.”
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