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54
THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION
It is perhaps fitting that the following account of the work of the
Health Department, since the formation of the Metropolitan Borough
Council of Lewisham, should be headed by a translation of the motto
"Salus Populi Suprema Lex" which appears on the coat of arms of the
Borough.
The Lewisham Borough Council was formed in November 1900
and became administratively responsible for the Borough's present area
of 7,015 acres. The population in 1901 was 127,495, in 1925, 185,600,
in 1950, 228,300 and in 1964, 223,170. Fuller information of the population
trends can be seen from table 8 on page 12 of this report.
The first report of the Medical Officer of Health for the new borough
was for the year 1901, and he said in his preface to the report that "The
health of the district is highly satisfactory. The death rate from all causes
amounted to 13.0 per 1,000, the lowest in London except Hampstead,
and far below the average for England and Wales and the 33 great towns".
The number of inhabited homes in 1901 was 22,750 and Dr. Wellesley
Harris, the then Medical Officer of Health was able to report that
"it is fortunate that buildings were erected which provided accommodation
slightly in excess of the increased population thus avoiding overcrowding".
The total number of tenements—the home of a separate
family or separate occupier—amounted to 27,701 of which 19,140
contained five rooms and over. Among these tenements there was some
overcrowding, but speaking of one room tenements the doctor said
that there was an absence of any serious overcrowding in the district.
This favourable situation was not destined to last, however, as can be
seen from the section on Housing where the later history of this subject
is continued.
The average number of persons to the acre was 18.03 in 1901 and
the Medical Officer of Health said about the health of the district that
"the borough is most fortunate in this respect, compared with other
London districts. It has a good elevation and is bounded for the most
part by open country, while nearly half its area is unbuilt upon".
According to the 1961 census report the number of persons to the acre
was 31.6 a quite different environment to that of 1901. There has
however, been a continual overall improvement in health through the
years in spite of the increasing urbanisation of the district.
Some comparative statistics from 1901 to 1964 are shown in table 8
on page 12. The decline in the tuberculosis notification and death rate,
and in infant mortality are perhaps the most significant indications of
the improvement in standards of hygiene over the years.
Infectious diseases
It may be of interest to recall the major outbreaks of disease occurring
since 1901. These will emphasize that continuing vigilence is
necessary at all times.
Early in the century the number of cases of enteric fever averaged
50, but by 1915 had dropped to 12 each year. No special comment was
apparently called for during that period, but undoubtedly improving