[Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Marlborough Borough.
- Marlborough (England). Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1970
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Marlborough Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![The population estimate this year shows virtually no change. The effect of the extension to the M4,duo to ho completed in 1971?.on the population trend is difficult to predict. While it should mako tho town an even more attractive place to live in by roducing tho amount of heavy through traffic, tho lack of available land for housing development will probably mean that any increase in population, certainly in the immediate future, will bo marginal only. Tho general health of the town is satisfactory. The number of births - 86 - shows a slight reduction, but still givos a higher adjusted birth rate than that for England and Wales. The number of illegitimate births is again higher in fact tho highest recorded, at 13 per cent. This figure is rather surprising since it takes no account of pregnancies legitimised by marriage, at a time when society tolerates legalised abortion. Undoubtedly, there must be the greatest concern for anything which increases tho numbers of children of an unsupported mother, since as anyone concerned with community health knows only too well tjiat in general, in spite of all the support available today, they face serious built-in handicaps at tho outset. Another important side effect of present day sex trends is the increasing incidence of venereal disease, now higher than it has ever boen, and probably much highor than official figures appear to indicate, Tho number of deaths are slightly lower due mainly to a reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease and lung cancer. nevertheless, the report of tho Royal Collcgo of Physicians Smoking and Health ITow, 1971? has rein¬ forced tho hazard of cigarette smoking in relation to both those conditions together with chronic bronchitis. In my opinion as much publicity ns possible needs to bo given to tho findings of this report over a long period, and T mako no apology for referring again to what I consider to bo parts of tho report which perhaps have not had as much publicity as they deserve. First, the estimate that in 1968 of tho 99?082 deaths which occurred among men aged 35~66, there were 31,000 premature deaths - almost a third - associated with cigarette smoking, and second, tho steady and comparatively rapid decline in the risks to tho individual who givos up smoking and remains a non-smoker. I feel sure that in future there will be an increasing trend by tho more thoughtful members of socioty to avoid enslaving themselves to this dangerous habit, which could result in smoking becoming unfashionable. Tho number of cases of notifiable infectious diseases - 13 - was tho lowest since 1962 when there were four. Of those, nine wore duo to measles and two to tuberculosis, one of which was respiratory. This figure contrasts strongly with the total of 236, of which 131 were due to measles, in '196']. Measles is now a preventable disease and can, I beliovc, as in tho case of poliomyelitis bo almost eliminated by tho vaccination policy. In this Borough parents have so far responded extremely well, and most children arc now vaccinated against measles on reaching their first birthday. Vaccination is now available too in respect of rybella (German measles), which is of signifi¬ cance in that it is a potent factor in producing congenital deformities in children born to women who contract tho disease during their pregnancy, The present recommendation in this country is that all girls in the 11-J—14 ago group should bo vaccinated. Housing conditions arc reasonably good, and tho points scheme has certainly contributed to the fact that fewer complaints reach my desk. There is no doubt that there is a pressing need at tho present time to extend and improve housing provisions for tho elderly, the absolute numbers of whom con¬ tinue to rise. Factors which could load to an acceleration of this trend in the years to ccmc arc a significant reduction in cigarette smoking, an important factor particularly in men, another could well be a significant 2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29791509_0007.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
