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13
DUTIES OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
As there has been much misconception respecting the duties of
the Medical Officer of Health, I may here, perhaps, be allowed to
submit an outline of what I believe to be their prominent features, as
well as to acquaint the Vestry with that which I have done in endeavouring
to perform those duties, and to state the difficulties which
have been met with, in the confident hope of their removal.
When I was elected your Medical Officer of Health, in February
last, I conceived that I was entrusted with the important charge of
the sanatory management of the Hamlet; that it was my duty to
acquaint myself with the existing condition of the District; more
especially with those matters which have a natural tendency to produce,
promote, or intensify disease, particularly that of an endcmic or
contagious character; to construct channels of information, or avail
myself of those already in existence, by which I could be readily and
speedily informed of any changes in the health of the inhabitants, and
to use such information for the purpose of investigating the causes
producing those changes, so as to be able to recommend or suggest to
the Vestry measures calculated to effect, wherever it could be accomplished,
a removal or abatement of exciting or aggravating causes of
disease; thus attaining the prime object of sanatory supervision—
a sensible reduction in the rate of mortality.
It also appeared to me that an accurate record should be kept of
all matters which came under my notice, so that I should be able to
render statistical reports to the Vestry as often as might be required.
As I had no predecessor in my office, whose successful method of
obtaining and using information I might imitate, or whose errors I
might endeavour to avoid, I was compelled either to construct a system
to carry on the duty, or to find, select, and adopt, with some
modification, one which had stood the test of experience. With such
an example as that of Mr. J. Simon before me, whose skill and success
in the management of sanatory affairs in the City of London have
procured for him a very high reputation, I could scarcely hesitate as to
the course to be pursued. I therefore spent considerable time and
took great pains to acquaint myself with the method employed by
Mr. Simon. I have consequently constructed a similar system, in close
imitation of his, and although capable at present of improvement it is
evident that great advantages will be derived from its operation.