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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.l.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington.
Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the Health and Sanitary
condition of the Borough for the year 1937.
Vital Statistics.
The death-rate for the year was 12.90, which is calculated on the estimated
population of the Registrar General—295,400. The infantile mortality rate was
66 per 1,000 births ; both these figures are slightly higher than the previous year,
and it may be remembered that in 1935 we had the lowest figures up to then recorded,
namely: death-rate 10.99, infantile mortality rate 52. A summary of statistics will
be found on page 2.
Infectious Disease.
The principal notifiable infectious diseases were below the average taken on the
figures for the previous ten years, puerperal fever being 21 below, as against 14 in the
preceding year. Hospital isolation was taken advantage of to the extent of 96.1 of
the notified cases. The hospital and ambulance services were adequate, both being
provided by the London County Council.
In connection with the occurrence of enteritis in an institution in the Borough,
enquiries were made by the Officers of the Ministry of Health, and as a result of the
investigations and recommendations, it is hoped that the possibility of further such
occurrences may be obviated.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The Miriam Price Coleman Day Nursery and Sunlight Clinic, Scholefield Road,
was opened in October, and marks an advancement in Child Welfare, as hitherto the
Borough Council, although it has subsidised similar institutions, had not a Municipal
Day Nursery.
Towards the end of the year the .Council had under consideration the establishment
of a Maternity Emergency Unit, and the question of a Consultative Pre-natal
and Post-natal Clinic, which would also deal in this connection with minor ailments
of women.
Housing.
The Medical Officer of Health represented, for clearance, areas in Gaskin Street
(late Church Street), and to be dealt with later by the Borough Council, areas in
Cornelia Street, St. Clement Street, and City Garden Row. Five Demolition Orders
were made in respect of premises, and underground rooms continued to be dealt with.
During the year three retirements of members of the staff of the Public Health
Department occurred, Mr. T. W. Agar, Sanitary Inspector for 35 years, and Mr. A.
Lewis, Engineer, and Mrs. E. L. Lewis, Caretaker, at the Disinfecting Station.
I should like to express my thanks to the Members of the Council, and especially
to the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Committees, Public Health, Maternity
and Child Welfare, and Housing, for the great interest taken in the work of my
department during the year, and to the Assistant Medical Officer, t he Superintendent,
and the members of my staff generally for the competent manner in which they have
co-operated throughout the year.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
Medical Officer of Health.