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68603
2
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I present herewith my report upon the health and sanitary
condition of the Borough during the year 1940.
Following upon the advice of the Ministry of Health, the
report is an abridged one as for the previous year, and is mainly
confined to a statistical record. It is a matter for profound
thankfulness that there has been no serious epidemic during the
year and that the general health of the population after two years
of war has been so good. The incidence of infectious disease has
not been unduly high. The rise in the death rate is the result very
largely of deaths through enemy action. The infantile mortality
rate is the lowest ever recorded in the Borough. The incidence of
tuberculosis and the death rate from this disease show a small
rise as compared with the previous five years. A similar rise
occurred during the last war.
During the year the department was unfortunate in losing
through enemy action the premises housing the Tuberculosis
Department and the main Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic,
and also a Maternity and a Child Welfare Clinic in another part
of the Borough. This caused temporary dislocation of the work in
those departments which was, however, quickly overcome. Many
of the records, however, of the Tuberculosis Dispensary were lost.
My staff has been called upon during the year to undertake
many duties incidental to the war and I gratefully acknowledge
my indebtedness to them for their willing and ready help in all
emergencies.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
G. MACDONALD,
Medical Officer of Health.
January, 1942.