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Metropolitan Borough of Deptford.
Public Health Department,
Deptford Town Hall, S.E.14.
28th June, 1938.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Deptford.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my ninth Annual Report upon the
sanitary circumstances, sanitary administration and vital statistics of
the Borough.
The estimated population for statistical purposes was 96,580 and
based upon this figure, the birth and death-rates per 1,000 of the
population were 15.1 and 11.7, compared with 15.7 and 12.2 for the
year 1936.
The infantile mortality rate was 45, and the maternal death-rate
0.6—the latter rate being calculated upon 1,000 total (live and still)
births.
The incidence of infectious disease was less in 1937 than in 1936,
a total of 657 cases being notified as compared with 762 during the
previous year.
The widespread prevalence of dysentery (Sonne type) had its
counterpart in the Borough—20 cases being notified.
The work of the Sanitary Inspectors is outlined in the section
dealing with the sanitary circumstances of the Borough, which, in
amount and variety, reflects great credit upon the inspectorial staff.
The purity of the food supply, primarily the duty of the Food
Inspector, has been satisfactorily safeguarded.
The efforts the Council are making to improve the sanitary
conditions of underground rooms are included in the section dealing
with Housing.
The office work in connection with the relief of overcrowding and
improvement in sanitary environment has grown tremendously of
recent years, and has necessitated the elaboration of a system of
keeping these matters under constant review. Much of the credit for
the smooth working of this scheme was due to the painstaking and
conscientious devotion to duty of the late Mr. A. G. W. Pettitt, whose
sudden death, at a comparatively early age, occasioned the greatest
regret amongst his colleagues.
Disciplinary matters affecting certain members of the female staff
are referred to in the section entitled "General Provision of Health
Services."