View report page

5
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report on
the Health and Sanitary condition of the Borough during 1938.
A Summary of the principal vital statistics for the year is given
on page 7. In my Annual Report for 1937 I drew attention to the
high infantile mortality rate for that year, and I hazarded the opinion
that the rate was an abnormal one and that it was unlikely to
continue at so high a level. It is pleasing to note that the rate for
the current year has fallen to 53 per 1,000 births as compared
with 70.43 in 1937. The fall in the number of infant deaths in the
Borough from 1901 to 1922 was rapid and continuous, but since that
date the infant death rate has remained more or less stationary
with only comparatively small fluctuations from year to year.
The death rate from Tuberculosis is the lowest ever recorded
in the Borough.
The general work of the Public Health Department has been
carried on under considerable difficulties during the latter part of
the year, and I gratefully acknowledge the loyal service so readily
rendered by the whole staff in carrying out duties which, in many
cases, involved a new orientation of mind and practice.
I wish to thank the Mayor and Members of the Borough
Council, and more particularly the Chairman and Members of the
Public Health, Maternity and Child Welfare and Housing Committees,
for the continued support that I have received from them
during the year. I am particularly mindful of the assistance
always so readily given by the Chief Officers of the Council.
I have the honour to be, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) G. MACDONALD,
Medical Officer of Health.
Electric House,
Lavender Hill, S.W. 11.
June, 1939.