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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit for your information my Annual
Report on the Sanitary State of the Borough of Battersea for the
Year 1928.
The Vital and Morbid Statistics for the year are on the whole
satisfactory, and the progressive improvement of recent years
continues to be maintained.
The birth-rate, however, the steady decline of which has been
a disturbing feature of the vital statistics of the country generally
during the past two decades, has now reached its lowest figure in
Battersea and remains practically stationary, being 16.7 per 1,000
of the population as compared with 16.6 in the previous year.
On the other hand it is satisfactory to note that the general
death rate (11.9) is lower than that for the year 1927.
The Infant death-rate is higher, 64.2 per 1,000 births as compared
with 53.5 in 1927. The increase was mainly due to the
prevalence of respiratory diseases, bronchitis and pneumonia, in
the first quarter of the year, and for the remaining nine months of
the year the infant mortality was almost equal to that for the
previous year (53.5 per 1,000 births), which was, with the exception
of 1923, the lowest recorded in the Borough. The increase of rate
for 1929 may therefore be regarded as accidental, and there is no
reason to fear that there is any permanent interruption in the normal
progressive decline in the Battersea Infantile Mortality rate
statistics.
Certain of the common Infectious Diseases have been very
prevalent in Battersea as well as in other Metropolitan Districts
during the year, notably Measles, Whooping Cough and Diphtheria.
Notwithstanding the high incidence of these diseases the mortality
has been relatively low as compared with outbreaks in previous
years. It is satisfactory to note also that although Smallpox
was prevalent in many parts of London, including the Boroughs
immediately adjoining, only one case occurred in Battersea during
the year, and it is probable, though the evidence was inconclusive,
that this patient was infected outside the Borough. A good deal
of the time of the Departmental Staff, indoor and outdoor, was,
however, taken up in following up and dealing with the large number
of contacts referred from other Boroughs.
Considerable activity has been displayed in the Maternity
and Child Welfare work of the Council during the year. The
acquisition by the Council of the commodious building known as
Southlands College and its grounds, has enabled the largest Welfare
Centre and Clinic to be transferred from the Latchmere Baths to
the new environment. Portions of this large block of buildings
have been adapted and equipped for various Health Services, including
Maternity and Child Welfare, and the accommodation