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Home visiting of tubercular patients was now well established, 2,385 visits being
made by doctors and 2,747 by nurses. All new cases were being visited by both a doctor
and a nurse. Infectious cases received special attention and more frequent visiting.
The 1914-18 war affected the work of the department as the following shows:-
"Medical Officers of Health in London were appointed to the Staff of the D.A.D.H.
London to supervise sanitary conditions in camps and billets." All the Sanitary Inspectors
joined the forces.
A dairy was fined £50 for selling milk adulterated with 10% added water.
1924
The M.O.H. Dr. A.M. Hewat, referring to cancer stated it was his "unpleasant duty to
record the fact that more deaths took place from this disease in Fulham during 1924 than
have ever taken place since records have been kept." He devoted nearly 8 pages of his
report to the problem of cancer, its causes, early diagnosis and treatment.
A plea was also made for more mothers to attend ante-natal clinics or attend their
own doctor for ante-natal supervision, so that the number of infant deaths could be reduced
The Council made a grant of £300 per annum to Fulham Day Nursery, then run by a
Voluntary Committee.
Concern was also expressed regarding a serious increase in the number of cases
(21) of encephalitis lethargica (sleepy sickness) and of pneumonia. Dr. Hewat reports
his findings of a follow-up of six encaphalitis cases and found that after recovery from
the acute illness all showed serious permanent nervous or personality changes.
Under Health Education eleven public lectures and film shows were given on Venereal
Diseases.
Mr. F.E. Walsh who is now a Senior Public Health Inspector and Mr. A.W. Gammack
(Public Health Inspector), who only recently retired, are listed as members of the Clerical
staff of the department,
Even in 1924 Dr. Hewat on housing states "It is obvious that there is little room in
Fulham for new buildings." The eviction by the Council of 40 persons occupying seven
unfit cottages in Jerdan place and Vanston Place was reported. The Council had to
purchase two empty houses to accommodate five of the families consisting of 23 persons.
In 1924 the Housing Committee which had previously ceased to function, was
reconstituted.
Under Food & Drugs, the prohibition was being urged of all preservatives except
S0 2 and Benzoic Acid in all articles of food and drink offered or exposed for sale.
Constant watchfulness was required in order to deal with the unsatisfactory places
where costers had been found to keep food, especially fruit, prior to its sale on their
barrows or stalls. There were 43 Underground bakehouses in the Borough and 2 licensed
slaughtermen.
The absence of a requirement to register food-preparing premises was deplored.