On This Day, 29 October 1918

Birmingham Mail 

Tuesday 29 October 1918

BIRMINGHAM’S HEALTHIEST YEAR

FEWER MARRIAGES IN 1917

GREAT NEED FOR MORE HOUSES.

The Birmingham Medical Office (Dr, Robertson), in his report for the year 1917, just issued, says:—“The outstanding fact is that, in spite of the stress and strain which the whole population under, we have had the healthiest year on record, so far as the city is concerned. The general death-rate and the infant mortality-rate were both lower than ever before. Many of the records in regard to individual diseases also are low, or lower, than ever. During the past few years I have pointed out that our greatest need is more houses to reduce the overcrowding, and new houses to replace the unwholesome back-to-back courtyard houses. The people will readily leave most of these unhealthy dwellings if they can get something better.”

In regard to marriages, births, and deaths, the report states that there were in Birmingham 7,428 marriages in 1917 as against 8,047 in 1916—a fall from 18.0 per 1,000 to 16.6. There were 17,706 babies born in 1917, or 2,912 fewer than in 1916, giving a birthrate of 19.7. The birth-rates varied from 12.8 per 1,000 in Sparkhill to 28.5 per 1,000 in St. Bartholomew’s. Northfield Ward showed the lowest mortality, with a rate of 7.5 per 1,000, closely followed by King’s Norton, Selly Oak, and Erdington South, with rates of 8.0, 8.6. and 8.8 respectively. At the other end came St. Mary’s with 19.7, St. Paul’s with 18.2, and St. Martin’s and Duddeston Wards with rates of 17.2.

An interesting point is recorded connection with the Yardley Road Sanatorium, where the growing and drying of medicinal herbs and of plants for seed purposes affords a useful occupation which can be undertaken by either sex. Such work, the report states, may be the means of providing a healthy and perhaps remunerative hobby for tuberculosis patients after leaving the sanatorium. Complete change of work the report goes on say, is not to be regarded as essential in the majority of cases of tuberculosis, so long as the occupation is not dangerous to health. It is urged that the well-lighted and efficiently-ventilated factories, which have been built for the production of war material, might eventually be acquired and so adapted that the tuberculosis could work in them without disadvantage.

In regard to milk supply, the report advises the public to demand that the milk they buy should be fresh, pure, and clean. It was important to get milk which was only a few hours old, rather than milk which had been stored for 24 hours.