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9
is my pleasing duty to record. Nor must one forget the individual
others in the Borough who respond so splendidly in trying conditions
to the medical and nursing supervision given at Welfare
Centres, Surgery or Hospital. Experts suggest that a rate of 25 is
an ideal: if this is true, then this Borough is proceeding well
towards the irreducible minimum.
A somewhat disquieting tendency is shown in connection with
Tuberculosis. The death rate had dropped between 1901 and 1938
from 1.83 to .77 per 1,000 population. The figure for 1946 is .97,
and is a reminder that there must be no complacency felt in face of
those twin enemies of Public Health: overcrowding and bad
housing.
Turning to Infectious Diseases, it is pleasing to note that
despite the usual biennial increase in incidence of Measles, the total
notifications of 1,580 for this year are below the average. For 1945
and 1938 the figures were 1,102 and 2,811 respectively.
Encouraging results had been obtained up to the end of 1945 in
the Council's Diphtheria Immunisation scheme. During the year
under review a special appeal arrangement was instituted, and
produced a marked increase in applications for the service. At the
end of the year it was estimated that 50% of children under 15 years
of age had completed courses of immunisation.
The four ad hoc Welfare Centres provided by the Council were
well attended during the year. In addition, part-time use was being
made of three other premises as relief Centres, and plans were under
consideration for the adaptation of Fairfield House, Charlton Village,
and the temporary conversion of a hutment in Ridgebrook Road,
Kid brook Estate.
Recommendations have been made and considered relative to
the acquisition of a suitable site for a comprehensive Health Centre.
This was a matter left in abeyance for the war, and had been considered
in 1938/39 because of the loss of the Old Borough Hall
Centre. While it is not envisaged that any building operations
could be expected in the near future, it was, I feel, a wise step for
the Committee to review the matter.
Another problem in abeyance since the crisis year, was the
replacement of the old Disinfecting and Cleansing Station, where the
fabric of the buildings and the installations are worn-out or out-ofdate.
A recommendation to group personal cleansing and disinfecting
plant in a modern building, centrally placed and with up-to-date
fitments, was before the Public Health Committee at the year end.
The Day Nurseries in Shooter's Hill Road and Pound Park
Road were transferred to the County Council in April. At the same
time that portion of Conley Street Nursery which catered for