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BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Walworth Road, S.E.
Dear Sir and Gentlemen,
I have the honour of submitting for your consideration my thirtyfourth
Annual Report which deals with the vital statistics and general
sanitary work for the year 1920.
It will be seen that the birth-rate has considerably increased, whilst
the death-rate has diminished.
There has been increased mortality from Measles, partly due to the
withdrawal of compulsory notification and the difficulty in the early
supervision of the cases. The deaths from Whooping Cough have also
increased on the previous year.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme is in full operation. Of
the fourteen centres existing at the present time, seven are entirely
municipal, three partly municipal and partly voluntary, and four wholly
voluntary.
The infantile mortality rate for the year 1920 was 86 per 1,000 births,
the lowest on record.
Much poverty has existed in the Borough during the year. Necessitous
children and expectant mothers have received free milk to the
extent of £1,658 14s. 2d.
The Municipal Nursery, which accommodates 45 infants, has been
always full, and four times that number have applied for admission.
The food inspected at the wharves and throughout the district has
received much attention. Large quantities, of unsound, food that might
have been sold for human consumption have been destroyed or used in
other ways.
An inspector was appointed under the Rats and Mice (Destruction)
Act, 1919. A summary of this work will be found in my report.
I have to thank the Council and the Public Health Committee for
their courtesy and support.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
G. B. MILLSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
of the Borough of Southwark.