[Report 1919] / Medical Officer of Health, Cosford (Union) R.D.C.

  • Cosford (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1919] / Medical Officer of Health, Cosford (Union) R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    COSFORD RURAL DISTRICT, 1919. ^ In the Administrative County of West Suffolk. Hunual %z\toxi of tl|e metrical of < )ii the Healtli and Sanitary Condition of the Cosford Rural District of the Cosford Union, during the twelve months ending 31st December, 1919. (Twenty-fifth Annual Report to the Cosforo District Council). Population (1911) 11808, (Males 6035, Females 5773). Estimated Population for Birth-rate 10133. ,, ,, ,, Death-rate 9727. Area 48,572 acres. Number of Inhabited Houses 2775. Number of Persons per Inhabited House 3.5. Physical Features, etc. The District consists mainly of agricultural land, of which a large proportion is arable. The soil is for the most part heavy, the subsoil consisting of deposits of Boulder Clay on deeper deposits of Chalk. So-ial Conditions, etc. The occupations of the inhabitants of the District are mainly agricultural. There are factories at Lavenham for horsehair cloth and cocoanut matting. Vital Statistics. Births. There were 166 births registered in the District during the year (76 males and 90 females), this includes 4 children whose parent’s permanent addresses were outside the District. The birth-rate for the year is 16.3 per thousand of the estimated population. The births and birth-rates for the past five years were as follows :— 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. Births 209 204 140 163 166 Birth-rates 17.6 17.1 12.6* - 15.1* 16.3* *On the estimated population. Deaths. The number of deaths from all causes, at all ages, belonging to the District was 132 (80 males and 52 females), making a death-rate of 13'6 per thousand of the estimated population. The deaths and death- i-ates for the past five years were as follows :— 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. Deaths 178 131 122 156 132. Death-rates 15.0 12.3 12.2* “ 16.2*^ 13.6* Infantile Mortality. There were 14 deaths amongst infants under one year of age (9 males and 5 females), making a death-rate of 84'3 on the registered births. Of these 3 were due to respiratory diseases, () to pretnaturity and 2 to malnutrition and debility. The proportion of deaths under one year to births in the last five years was :— 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 110.0 19.6 60.4 61.3 84.3 Deaths from Infectious Diseases. There were 20 deaths from Infectious Diseases during the year, including deaths from all forms of Tuberculosis, making a death-rate of 2.1 per thousand of the estimated population. They were as follows :—Whooping Cough 1, Epidemic Influenza 5, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 7, Tuberculosis (other forms) 2. The total deaths and death-rates from Infectious Diseases for the last three years were as follows :— 1917. 1918. 1919. Total 19 42 20 Death-rate.... 1.9 4.3 2.1 tf Deaths from all other causes were 112, or 11.5 per thousand of the estimated population. The principle f causes of death and death-rates in the District for the past three years were :— % Bronchitis Pleurisy. Pneumonia. Heart Disease. Injury. Cancer. Other Diseases. Totals. Death-rates. 1917 — 22 23 3 10 52 110 ll’l 1918 — 14 17 7 15 61 114 11’8 1919 — 11 23 2 10 66 112 11’4 Sanitary circumstances of the District:— Water. A large proportion of the District comprises high clay lands, the water supply is therefore generally a matter of difficulty. Hitcham. A deep bore well with wind pump, reservoir and standpipe supply. This undertaking has been a constant trouble since its installation, and in the Spring of 1919 the supply gave out. A further exposure in the chalk by extending the bore 100 feet was effected and a good and ample supply is now cojistantly available. Whatfield. Deep well with reservoir and standpipes ; supply has been constant and satisfactory throughout the year. Kettlehaston. Water here has been derived from ponds and the Council is preparing a scheme for the jjarish. La.yham. In Lower Layham the supply was generally obtained from a stream which was subject to ])ollution. The Council propose to sink two wells in convenient positions for this part of the parish. The first well has been completed but owing to the Moulder’s strike the pump lias not been obtained and the supply is not available. The villages possessing public wells are :—Bildeston, Cockfield, Elmsett, Groton,. Hitcham, Lavenham, Lindsey, Monks' Eleigh, Polstead, Wattisham and Whatfield. Naughtonhas an enclosed surface water reservoir. The villages dependent upon private wells and ponds are :—Aldham, Boxford, Brent Eleigh, Brettenham, Chelsworth, Kettlehaston, Kersey, Milden, Hedging, Preston, Senier, Thorpe Morieux, Hadleigh Hamlet and Edwardstone. During the drought water had to be carted in the parish of Cockfield for a short period.
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