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A Health Week and Exhibition was held in February, 'and the following
is a copy of the report submitted by the Public Health Committee to the
Council:—
We have had submitted to us a report by the Medical Officer of Health
upon the holding of Stepney "Health Week," and for the information of the
Council we submit a copy thereof as follows, namely:—
STEPNEY HEALTH WEEK.
The sixth Stepney Health Week was held from the 15th to 20th February last, and
various lectures, health talks, cinema films and demonstrations were given daily at the
Whitechapel Art Gallery. The ground floor of the gallery was occupied by 28 stalls and
the plan was well arranged so that the middle block of stalls showed the Public Health
activities in the Borough, i.e.,
1. One showed drainage models, drain testing appliances, specimens of diseased
meat, blown canned goods, and samples of unsound sweets condemned in the
Borough.
2. Another was a rats and mice exhibit, which consisted of various stuffed rats and
mice, baits, traps and poisons.
3. A Tuberculosis Stall consisted of a display of various articles made by Tuberculous
patients at our Tuberculosis Handicraft class.
4. This stall had an Exhibit—"Babies of all Nations." This was a display of dolls,
showing how babies in various parts of the world are dressed.
5. Another stall had articles of baby clothing which were supplied by the Voluntary
Centres.
Around the hall were various exhibits, comprising different kinds of food, disinfectants,
dental work and housing models, etc.
The opening ceremony was performed by Her Worship the Mayor of Stepney
(Councillor (Miss) M. Moses, J.P.), on Monday the 15th February, the Chairman being
Alderman (Mrs.) C. B. Lankester, J.P. The Chairman in introducing Her Worship said
that the Public Health work spoke for itself and she was very pleased to see so many
prominent people present that afternoon. It was a great honour for her to be the Chairman
as she was also Chairman of the Public Health Committee.
The Mayor said how pleased she was to be present and how interested she was in the
work of the Public Health Department, which was an asset to the Borough. Great
strides had been made in the Welfare Centres—Municipal and Voluntary. To-day was
the day of youth and it must be the day of the baby. She referred to the difficulties
to-day in combating overcrowding, and to the work done at the Tuberculosis dispensaries
which were doing such good preventive work that they hoped to stamp out the disease.
Reference was also made to the work of the Sanitary Inspectors and to the importance
of watching the foodstuffs arriving in the Borough. She hoped that the Health Week
would be a success and that the results be far-reaching.
The other speakers included the High Commissioner for the Irish Free State (J. W.
Dulanty, Esq., C.B., C.V.E.); B. Janner, Esq., J.P., M.P.; W. J. O'Donovan, Esq.,
M.D., M.P., O.B.E.; Councillor (Mrs.) M. Tovey; Councillor The Countess Winterton;
and Councillor Miss I. Samuel, J.P., L.C.C., M.B.E. About 300 persons were present.
Cooking demonstrations and lectures to organised parties of mothers attending the
Infant Welfare Centres of the Borough were given daily. They proved to be very popular
and were much appreciated. There was a daily average of 130 attending the cooking
demonstrations and 106 at the lectures to mothers.
The lectures each evening were well attended and proved very interesting and
instructive. The subjects dealt with were—
" London Housing Conditions and Problems."—By F. Hunt, Esq., C.V.O., Valuer
to the London County Council.
"Cancer."—-By W. Cramer, Esq., D.Sc., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., of the Imperial Cancer
Research Fund.
"Food, Health and Happiness." By Dr. E. Sloan Chesser.
"The Menace of Ignorance." By I. Feldman, Esq., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., of the
British Social Hygiene Council.