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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the health
and sanitary state of the borough for the year 1924.
The birth-rate (18 4 per 1,000) is the lowest yet recorded in
the old parish or borough of Battersea except in 1917 and 1918,
during the war when conditions were abnormal.
The death rate (11.8) and Infant mortality rate (62 4) were
slightly higher than those for 1923. The increase in the mortality
rate was mainly due to the prevalence of Influenza, respiratory
diseases and Measles in the early months of the year, the number
of deaths in the first quarter being nearly double that in each of
the other quarterly periods. It is satisfactory to note that
notwithstanding the unfavourable figures for the beginning of the
year the mortality rates for the whole year were lower than in any
previous year with the exception of 1923.
There was a decline in the incidence of the principal infectious
diseases except measles as compared with the previous year.
The death-rate from Tuberculosis was very slightly higher
than in 1923. On the other hand the number of notifications
received was again lower than in any previous year, and it may
be assumed, therefore, that the slight increase in the mortality
figure from this disease was due to conditions affecting the general
death-rate, to which allusion has already been made.
The Health Services of the Council comprised in the Maternity
and Child Welfare Scheme were carried on during the year with
increased activity and success, and it has been necessary, owing
to the development of the Ante-natal side of the work, to increase
the medical staff by the appointment of a part-time woman medical
officer. The reduction in the rate of Maternal Mortality has not
kept pace with that of Infant Mortality and it is, therefore, of the
highest importance that adequate provision should be made for
the medical care and supervision of the expectant mother. It
may confidently be anticipated that valuable results will follow
from the improved Ante-natal service provided by the Council.
In regard to housing matters the activities of the Council
have been, of necessity, confined mainly to securing the repair
of unfit houses and much useful work in that direction has been
accomplished during the year under the provisions of Section 28
of the Housing Act, 1919. It is regrettable, however, that such