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STAFF.
The Council sustained a considerable loss through the death in
January, 1921, of Dr. E. C. Bousfield, who was appointed bacteriologist
in the far away days of 1898, when the then Vestry was one of
the earliest, if not actually the first, to recognise the value of
this branch of medicine in the prevention of infectious disease.
In 1899 he was concerned with others in pointing out the practical
importance of the examination of apparently healthy throats. This
was largely made use of in the investigation of an outbreak of diphtheria
in a certain school and a reference to the Minutes of that
time will give an idea of the stir then caused by that long-forgotten
episode. Its effect, however, remains in the word " carrier,'' which
has now become such a much used word in the public health
vocabulary.
He was a man well known and his opinion was largely sought by
many practitioners in the Borough, especially at a time when so few
authorities provided the opportunities he then gave to Camberwell.
On many occasions he acted as my deputy, the last time being
during the war, when I was engaged abroad for over six months,
and on many occasions the Council thanked him for his services.
After much consideration and discussion, the Council finally
decided that the work formerly done so well by Mr. Chadderton, the
chief clerk, should be extended and it was decided to appoint two
sectional clerks; Mr. Wright in the main to look after the general
correspondence and management of the office, while Mr. Jones, a
former inspector, had charge of the work of the Inspectors. It
speaks highly for the public spirit of these two members of the staff
that they have managed so well in an arrangement which, I am
equally bound to say, I thought would never work smoothly and of
which I could not altogether approve.
Coincident with this was the transference of a good deal of
clerical work from the inspectors to the clerks with the idea that
the former by being relieved of some of their duties in this regard
would be able to devote more attention to their out-door work.
Various other recommendations were made, but were held over in
view of the changes that would ensue on my resignation in March,
1922. To fill Mr. Jones' position Mr. Donald Glenday was
appointed a temporary sanitary inspector.
The appointment of health visitors is referred to elsewhere.
The two appointed were Miss Stoddart, a trained nurse and midwife,
formerly superintendent of the Bird-in-Bush Voluntary
Maternity Centre, and Miss Agnes Duffield, who had formerly had
a large midwifery experience in the Borough, and who at the time
of her appointment was engaged temporarily by the Council.
The use of a house belonging to the Council for the purpose of
a Tuberculosis Dispensary was not unexpectedly vetoed by the
Central Authority, and a proposal was then made that it should be
used as offices for the Public Health Department. The separation
of such an integral part of the administration of the Council is