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5
I would like to express my appreciation of the work done by
Mrs. Speechley, for the immense trouble which she takes and for
her kindness, thoughtfulness and patience in dealing with these old
people who are in need.
At the end of the year a case of smallpox was discovered in
the neighbouring Borough of St. Pancras. The energetic measures
which were taken at that time prevented any secondary cases occurring
in London but an outbreak of smallpox in Yorkshire shortly
afterwards combined with a great deal of publicity in the national
press and on television, resulted in a public demand for vaccination
amounting almost to a mass vaccination campaign. Although there
was not a need for vaccination on this scale and although the semihysterical
attitude which developed was unfortunate, it did result
in a large number of people, including young children, being
vaccinated and it may for a time lead to an increased proportion of
young children being presented for protection against this serious
disease.
In December the Government set out proposals for the reorganisation
of local government in the Greater London area. The
proposals are basically similar to those of the Royal Commission
although so far as Hampstead is concerned the combination of
boroughs would include Holborn as well as St. Pancras, and not St.
Pancras alone as suggested by the Royal Commission. The main
deviation from the Royal Commission's proposals concerns
education. Local authorities are invited to make observations on
the proposals and whilst any action taken may have considerable
effects on the Annual Reports of future years it would be inappropriate
to make any comments in this one0
I deeply regret that I have to record the death of James
Cuskin, a Public Health Assistant, who had been employed in the
Public Health Department for 31 years. He was a cheerful, hardworking
and trustworthy servant of the Council and is greatly
missed by all members of the staff.
My thanks are due to the Members of the Council and more
particularly the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
Committee for their help and encouragement throughout the year.