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4
Like any animal, each one of us has been developed and evolved from a minute
marvellously complex cell (the female ovum) after fertilization by one or more
microscopic, actively motile, marvellously complex, tadpole-like cells (the male
spermatozoa).
. Science is also increasingly teaching us the wonderful defensive, recuperative
and compensatory mechanisms that have been evolved in living organisms
especially in the higher animals.
In other spheres of Science I will allude to only a few of the more modern
marvels such as aviation, X-rays, wireless telegraphy and telephony.
Moreover the pursuit of Science adds enormously to the zest and rational
enjoyment of life, provided Nature's beneficent laws of health have been fairly
obeyed.
Details are given respecting the further resumption of pre-war conditions,
and the various improved sanitary changes.
In January, 1920, Miss B. M. Kidd, M.B., was appointed Medical Officer of the
Maternity Centres and has given much satisfaction. On account of the largely
increased attendances of children at the Wednesday afternoon Clinics, an additional
Clinic on Fridays was started in February, 1920. The Ante-natal Clinic which
was begun in October, 1919, was continued during the year. The largely increased
number of applications for free or assisted milk and other food, and the very detailed
work connected therewith has occupied much of the time of the Public Health
Department. The infantile death-rate of the Borough for last year was the lowest
recorded, and was only 66 per 1,000 births in comparison with 75 for London.
The Dental Clinic for mothers and young children was continued during the
year, and as dental treatment for men and boys was also required, and especially for
tuberculous cases of both sexes (and the prevention of the many serious illnesses due
to dental defects), an evening Dental Clinic on Tuesdays was begun in October last,
and the attendances have satisfactorily increased. The valuable services of the Dentist,
Mr. Cecil Gray, are much appreciated by the patients.
The essential biological functions of all living organisms are assimilation and
reproduction, it is therefore requisite for good health both individually and racially
that these functions should be maintained in good order. The whole history of
mankind has, however, unfortunately shown that as the assimilative functions
have been and are so frequently abused and impaired by excess and errors in eating
and drinking, so also the reproductive by excess and lust and unnatural vices.
In my preceding Annual Report for 1919, I endeavoured to give some simple
teaching respecting the prevention of disease of the assimilative functions, and last
year, 1920, the Council agreed to give simple concise teaching " What Every Man
Should Know," respecting the prevention of Venereal Diseases.