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by the death of an old lady from this cause. A Coroner's inquiry
revealed that the deceased was blind and had apparently
attempted to light the gas-stove with an electric gas lighter
which had an exhausted battery; her disability prevented her
from noticing that the gas had failed to ignite, with fatal results.
Complaints of nuisances from insects have steadily diminished
since the advent of the new contact insecticides, of which DDT was
the first. There have, however, been cases in which small insects
(tyrophagus) from trees proved troublesome to the occupiers of
houses near-by. With the co-operation of the Parks & Open
Spaces Section of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department,
these infestations were eradicated.
Considerable attention was given to the health education
activities of the Public Health Department during the year. In
addition to the increased number of talks, demonstrations, film
shows, etc., which are referred to in this Report, students from
Cambridge University and the University of London Institute of
Education visited Camberwell and were shown something of the
varied public health activities; many of these students were from
abroad. There were also other visitors from foreign countries,
who were mainly interested in the services for the care and
welfare of the aged.
Unfortunately, the work of the Department suffered throughout
the whole year from the handicap of being unable to recruit a
full establishment of Public Health Inspectors. One of the four
vacancies which existed at the beginning of the year was filled
when one of the Council's student inspectors qualified at midyear,
but this advantage was off-set soon afterwards by the sad
and sudden death of Mr. M. L. Malins, one of the Housing
Inspectors. Towards the end of the year, the Council decided to
increase the number of trainee inspectors from two to four.
I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the
members of the Council and the other Chief Officers and their
staffs for their valuable co-operation and support during the year,
and to express my appreciation for the loyal and efficient
service rendered by' the staff of the Public Health Department.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your obedient Servant,
H. D. CHALKE
Medical Officer of Health.