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LAM 7
Public Health Department,
333, Kennington Road, S.E.
February, 1905.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth.
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
Again I have the privilege of presenting you with a very
satisfactory Annual Report, dealing with the Vital and Sanitary
Statistics of the Borough of Lambeth during the year 1904. The
mortality-rates are well below the averages, and the morbidity(or
sickness-) rates have been, correspondingly, lessened during
the year-more especially the zymotic incidence, which, for
1904, is the lowest yet recorded, either in the Borough, or in the
old Parish, of Lambeth, viz., a rate of 4.5 per 1000 of the
population, i.e., only one-half the average of 9.04 for the
decennium 1891-1900.
A somewhat serious local outbreak of Smallpox, introduced
from a neighbouring Borough, during the year was quickly
stamped out by the prompt methods taken, and so, what might
have proved an epidemic, was prevented.
The marked decrease in the Diphtheria-rates for the last few
years in Lambeth is still maintained.
The year 1904 will ever remain memorable for the public
spirit shewn by the Lambeth Borough Council in having decided
on July 14th, to establish, and maintain, within the Borough, an
Infants Milk Depot, even though the expenses connected therewith
will certainly, in the present state of the Law, be surcharged
by the District Auditor, and the disallowance may not be afterwards
remitted by the Local Government Board. It is, however,
satisfactory to know that much good must, of necessity, accrue
from the establishment, and maintenance, of such an Infants
Milk Depot, if only from an educational point of view—one most
important consideration (amongst many) in connection with the
lessening of the infantile mortality, which exists, in an excessive
amount, both in Lambeth and elsewhere, at the present time.
Other matters during 1904 calling for comment are :—
1. The increase in the number of samples taken under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts (a total of 1,200);