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IV
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.l,
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the Health and Sanitary
Condition of the Borough for the year 1933.
The death-rate (12.4) was practically the same as in the previous year (12.36).
The infantile mortality rate was 63 as against 68 in the previous year, and 64
in 1931.
Smallpox was much less prevalent, only 11 cases being notified, as against
162 in 1932.
During the year, commencing on the 1st April, the Borough Council took over
from the London County Council under the Transfer of Powers (London) Order,
1933, the following duties which come under the purview of my department.
(1) Public Health Services.
(a) Licensing, inspection and supervision of Seamen's Lodging Houses.
(There are at present, however, none in Islington.)
(b) Registration, licensing, inspection and regulation of common lodging
houses.
(c) Licensing of dairymen to use premises as cowhouses.
(d) Licensing and inspection of slaughterhouses and knacker's yards.
(e) Sanctioning of establishment or enlargement of premises used for offensive
trades.
(2) Maternity and Child Welfare Services.
Duties concerned with Infant Life Protection under Part 1 of the Children Act,
1908.
This work has added considerably to the duties of my staff, and in the case of
the health visiting slaff it was found expedient to practically transfer a health
visitor to the infant life protection work, while allowing her to continue just a
little of the routine health vsitor's work to enable her to be in touch with this also.
Mr. Hargraves Wilkinson, Inspector Meat and Foods in Islington for over
thirty-one years, died on the 12th June. He was held in high esteem by the
traders, the community generally, and by all, with whom he came officially in
contact. His passing elicited kindly sympathy from beyond the Borough.
My thanks are due to the Chairmen of the Committees and the Members of
the Council for the sustained interest they take in the work of the Department,
both in its Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare aspects, and to the
Superintendent and Members of my staff generally for their assistance during a
year in which we had with added duties more than the average amount of work.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
Medical Officer of Health.