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8
applying for treatment made it necessary for extra sessions to be
provided, including one on Saturday afternoon. At the year end
the position was again under review, and it is likely that further
extension of facilities will be necessary.
A report recommending the use of hydrogen cyanide for the
treatment of verminous furniture and effects as a part of a comprehensive
disinfestation scheme was accepted by the Public
Health Committee. At the end of the year arrangements to put
the scheme into effect were approaching completion.
The question of rheumatism was also under review during
the year, and it was decided to recommend that the manifestations
of acute rheumatism in children up to the age of 16 years
should be made notifiable, and that a suitable scheme of supervision
should be established.
It was recommended that an agreement be entered into with
the authorities of King's College Hospital with regard to a
scheme for the training of pupil midwives at the Maternity Home.
Such a change in the existing arrangements was made necessary by
reason of the alteration in the rules of the Central Midwives' Board.
It was decided also that Home Helps should be provided as
an additional service in your already comprehensive Maternity
and Child Welfare scheme.
A table is submitted in the Section on Housing showing the
progress of slum clearance since 1930. In addition to the areas
listed there are others under consideration, and in addition individual
unfit houses and underground rooms have continued
to receive attention. The Section devoted to Sanitary circumstances
indicates the systematic supervision of the district.
The examination of imported foodstuffs and the supervision
and sampling of foods and drugs in the retail premises in the Borough
has been carried out as thoroughly as in the previous year.
Before closing, I should like to thank my colleagues in the
other Departments for their kindness and assistance to me during
the year, and to each member of the Health Department staff I
tender my personal appreciation of their loyalty and good service.
It has been a very trying year for all concerned, and it is true
to say that it would have been impossible to carry on the work in
a satisfactory manner during the difficult times experienced were
it not for the cheerful co-operation of all concerned.
Finally, I wish to thank the Chairmen and Members of the
Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees for
their kindness to me and the help afforded me during the past year.
I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant
F. R. Waldron.