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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury.
MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to present my annual report on the state of the
public health in Finsbury for the year 1956.
In my last annual report I included a general survey of the
health of the borough and the services operated by your Council in the
ten years that had elapsed since the end of the Second World War. I
also enlarged in more detail than usual on the details of the work of
the Public Health Department. During the year 1956 there were no
major developments and I have, therefore, confined my report to the
more essential data.
It is, however, one hundred years exactly since the first annual
report that I have been able to discover was published. This was the
report of the first Medical Officer of Health to the Vestry of St.
James, Clerkenwell for 1856 and I believe it was his first annual
report. My Deputy has kindly prepared for me a brief note on it and
other material available in some of the older reports before the
formation of the Metropolitan Borough. This I have included out of
interest as an appendix to the main report.
The general health of the borough has remained good and I believe
has continued to improve. There were no outbreaks of any serious
infectious disease.
Food Hygiene and particularly the conditions in cafes and restaurants
received the very close attention of the Health Committee and
of the Department.
The inadequacy of housing and the state of property generally are
the most baneful influences in the sanitary environment.
It is with pleasure that I once again am able to acknowledge your;
generous support Mr. Mayor and that of the Chairman and Members of the
Health and other Committees of the Council. I also wish to thank my
staff most sincerely for their continued loyal help and co-operation.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient Servant,
C. 0. S. BLYTH BROOKE
Medical Officer of Health.