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pares with 68 for London as a whole and 59 for England
and Wales. The rate has been calculated upon a figure
supplied by the Registrar General—1,253. Calculated
upon the number of births actually registered in Hammersmith
(1,405) the rate would be 37. Every credit must be
given to the Maternity and Child Welfare services of the
Borough for this excellent result.
The number of cases of tuberculosis notified during the
year was 199 as compared with 167 during the previous
year and 198 in 1939. The average number of cases
notified during the previous ten years was 202. The
number of deaths from tuberculosis during the year was
103 compared with 118 in 1940, 107 in 1939 and an average
of 121 in the previous ten years.
As this will be the last report which I shall submit as
Medical Officer of Health of the Borough, it may be of
interest to record some of the progress which has been
made in the health services during the 28 years (except for
two years' service in the Army during the last war) which
I have held the office.
When I took office in September, 1914, I was the only
medical officer in the service of the Council. At the present
time the medical staff comprises, in addition to myself, one
Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Tuberculosis Officer,
three Assistant Medical Officers (women) engaged chiefly
on maternity and child welfare work, and one Assistant
Medical Officer for civil defence. Only one Health Visitor
was employed bv the Council at the time of my appointment
; now there are ten Health Visitors and two trained
nurses acting as Clinic Assistants. The clerical staff of
the department which then consisted of one chief clerk
and two assistants has now increased to eighteen.
In 1914 and for some years after I took office the Infant
Welfare Centres and Ante-Natal Clinics in the Borough
were conducted by voluntary societies working from three
centres, the Borough Council contributing to their upkeep.
At the present time all the maternity and child welfare
services are administered by the Council and clinics are