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comprising many houses, a Public Enquiry was held, presided over by a
representative of the Ministry of Health. I understand that the plans
of the County Council are well in hand and that this area will soon be
demolished.
And now we have to consider (c) "any further action of importance
contemplated by the Local Authority or considered desirable
by the Medical Officer of Health."
Yes, there is one serious matter requiring attention—the demolition
of some 3,000 houses, principally in the East End, and the provision
of say 2,000 houses apart altogether from the provision which would
be required for those displaced as above. It is no use blinking at the
facts, we are suffering badly from overcrowding. Families are living
crowded together in conditions of discomfort. Others families again
are living two and three families in one house. Where privacy is
awanting, happiness must be at a discount. Deptford's problem is
a housing one. In the course of the report I have given instances of
overcrowding that would melt the heart of an optimist. All this overcrowding
adds to our labours in the fight against disease. Diphtheria,
for example, gives trouble: I examined over 1,000 contacts during the
past year. Ample instructions, throat swabs and following up have
helped, but any observer can see that it is not in the comfortably
housed portion of the borough that our cases occur. It is true, as I have
pointed out to the Public Health Committee, that if we followed the
example of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newport, where the Shick
test is now in operation, we could cut down the incidence of diphtheria.
I must emphasise that it is only in this way, as things are at present,
we can hope to limit the number of cases. At present, in co-operation
with the County Council, we are sending "carriers" to a special clinic
at Guy's Hospital, where it may be that oro-nasal work may help to
dislodge the pertinacious virulent germ from the crypts of the throat
and nose. The constant kindness which I have received from your
Council makes me hesitate before mentioning one further point, but it
is evident that this should be mentioned under section (c). If and when
financial circumstances permit, perhaps it might be possible to give a
little consideration to the size of my clerical staff compared with the
staffs in the Health departments of other metropolitan boroughs.
I feel sure that action taken as a result of such comparison would add
to the efficiency of your Health department.