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7
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan
Borough of Hampstead.
Mr. Mayor, and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to place before you my Annual Report
for the year 1907.
The death-rate for the year 1907 is the lowest ever recorded in
Hampstead, and it is considerably lower than that of any other of
the Metropolitan Boroughs. The vital statistics generally afford
evidence of the excellent sanitary work that has been done in
Hampstead in recent years. But when attention is given to the
varying conditions in different parts of the Borough, it becomes
evident that although much has already been done in Hampstead,
much still remains for future achievement.
The main public health needs of the Borough at the present
time appear to be (i) a purer milk supply, (ii) the closer supervision
of tenement houses, and (iii) the development of health visiting in
relation to consumption and to infantile mortality. As to the milk
supply, the bacteriological examinations that have so far been made
on behalf of the Borough Council have revealed the fact that about
sixteen per cent. of the milk consumed in Hampstead contains
virulent tubercle bacilli. This, it need hardly be said, is a very
serious matter, the more so as the Council are powerless to prevent
the entrance of tuberculous milk into the Borough. The Government
have undertaken to deal with the question of milk supply on
a national basis this Session, but at the time of writing the promised
Bill has not been introduced.
The supervision of tenement houses and the extension of the
work of health visiting are matters falling within the province of the
Council, and there is much need of further efforts to develop the
work that is now being done in these important branches of public
health administration; but, as I have explained in the Report, this
object cannot be secured without some increase in the Staff of the
Public Health Department.