[Report 1905] / Medical Officers of Health, Dorset Rural and Urban District Councils.

  • Dorset (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1905] / Medical Officers of Health, Dorset Rural and Urban District Councils. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/66 page 9
    M.O.H Reports, 1905, Bridport (Orban). Bridport—Mr. Walter E Manby. Area of the District.— 651 acres. Population.—(census 1901) is 5705. Estimated to the middle of 1905—5945 as compared with 5955 in 1904. Births.—The number registered during the year is 100 (males 51, females 49) which is four more than last year—yielding a Birth Rate of 16'5 per 1,000 compared with 16-1 in 1901. Deaths.—Number registered is 110. The Death Rate being 18-5 compared with 15-1 in 1904. Average Age at Death is 55. Infant Mortality is 110 per 1,000 births registered, compared with 122-2 in 1904. Zymotic Mortality.—-009. In Table IV. you find the causes of and ages at which death occurred. I give here a brief tabulation to show the proportion of deaths at the different periods of life. Under 1 year • , 11—compared with 11 n 1904 1 and under 5 9 7 5 „ 15 0 2 15 „ 25 4 4 25 „ 65 32 33 65 and upwards 55 33 There have been 17 deaths in Public Institutions. The foregoing statistics shew us an increasing Birth Rate with a markedly increasing Death Rate. It is satisfactory to note, however, that fifty per cent of the Deaths occurred after the age of 65. Infections Diseases Notification Act. I am glad to be able to say that I have little to report under this heading. There has been a remarkable absence of Zymotic Diseases of a serious nature. Only one case ol diphtheria having been notified, and that was an imported case. During June and July a serious Outbreak of Measles occurred in the Infants' Department of the General School, and by my advice that department was closed for three weeks in order to check the spread of the malady. Scavenging, Flushing, &c. The Scavenging of the District and the Flushing of Drains lias been regularly carried out, excepting during the months of October and November when there was a shortage of water. The refuse has been destroyed in the “ Horsfall ” Destructor completely and satisfactorily. As a result of certain complaints that unwholesome emanations were proceeding from the ground ventilators along the course of the sewer in St. Andrew’s and West Bay Roads, additional ventilating shafts have been erected to abolish the nuisance. Slaughter Houses and Bakehouses. The usual annual inspections have been made. In the case of one bakehouse, lime washing was found to be urgently required ; but this was promptly done on the necessity being pointed out. Factories aud Workshops. The inspections as required by the Act have been made by the Sanitary Inspector. Cowsheds and Dairies. I have inspected these during the year and found them generally well attended to and in good sanitary condition. Isolation Hospital. Has been visited by me quarterly. It is well looked after. Only one case of Scarlet Fever has occupied a bed during the year, and that case was admitted in 1904. Housing of the Working Classes. Twelve houses have been entirely remodelled. Otherwise the housing is satisfactory. Water Supply. The reports on the Quarterly Analysis have invariably pronounced it good for drinking purposes. Any complaints during the year have received my attention. I hope that during this year all the dust carts may be fitted with covers. Port of Bridport. I have visited and inspected all ships coming from foreign ports of which I have received notice from the Custom's Officer. No sickness was discovered in any instance. Dorchester—Dr. E. J. Day This report I am pleased to be able to state shows that practically the past year, 1905, was as healthy as the preceding one, which is saying a good deal. The various details showing this are given in the same order as in 1904, to facilitate comparison. Acreage.—The Acreage is 1653, no less than 1092 acres having been added when the Borough was extended in 1900. Population.—The population at the last census, 1901, was 9,458, which is now estimated to be 10,360 (the natural increase during the year having been 107, against 129 in 1904). Making allowance for the new houses the population cannot now be less than 10,500, on this figure the birth and death rates have been calculated. Births.—The number of births registered was 228 (males 117, females 111) against 245 in 1904, 228 in 1903, 222 in 1902, 249 in 1901, and 195 in 1900, giving a birth-rate of 21-7 per 1000 [that for England and Wales in 1905 was 27’2 per 1,000 (which is -7 per 1,000 below the rate in 1904, and lower than the rate in any other year on record), this (the rate for England and Wales) when compared with the average in the ten years 1895-1904 shows a decrease of 1-8 per 1,000]. Deaths.—The total number of deaths registered is 141, making due allowance for the deaths which occurred outside this District among persons belonging thereto, and for the deaths of persons which occurred within this district among persons not belonging thereto, this number is reduced to 121 (males 59, females 62) giving a death-rate of 115 per 1,000, against 11-2 in 1904, and 15‘2 for England and Wales, this 15-2 per 1,000 is 1 per 1,000 below the rate in 1904 and lower than the late in any other year on record, and compared with the average rate in the ten years, 1895-1904, the death-rate iu 1905 shews a decrease of 2 per 1,000—that is for England and Wales. The death rate of this Borough is therefore 2-9 per 1,009 below that for 141 smaller towns tabulated by the Registrar General, and 3-7 below the rate for England and Wales, which is most satisfactory. The following is the death-rate since my appointment in 1879 :—
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3