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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 my Annual Report on the Health and Sanitary
Condition of the Borough for the year 1938.
Vital Statistics.
The death-rate for the year was 11.90, calculated on the estimated
population of the Registrar-General (292,300), as against 12.90 in the previous year.
The infantile mortality was 65 per 1,000 births, as against 66 in 1937. The summary
of statistics will be found on page 2.
Infectious Disease.
On the 1st October, 1937, a limited notification of Measles and Whooping Cough
came into force, the first cases in a house within two months being compulsorily
notifiable. From that date to the end of the year only 13 cases of Measles and 112
of Whooping Cough were notified, but the principle is now established which may
give preference to the treatment of such cases in hospital, besides drawing attention
to the serious character of these two diseases which have in the past too often
terminated fatally from complications.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The increased clinical work of the Municipal Sunlight Clinic and the Miriam
Price Coleman Day Nursery, as well as the necessary supervision of the Wards of the
North and West Islington Welfare Centres, was met by the appointment of
Dr. K. M. Hirst, of Birmingham, as Assistant Medical Officer, commencing on
the 1st June, 1938.
The Maternity Emergency Unit referred to in my last Annual Report was
definitely established, as also was the Maternity Consultative Clinic.
Housing.
During the year the areas represented for clearance which were to be dealt with
later, namely, Cornelia Street, St. Clement Street, Graham Street and City Garden
Row, were the subject of a Public Enquiry, and the Orders were confirmed on the
18th August.
Gaskin Street (formerly Church Street) was the subject of a Public Enquiry,
and a Clearance Order was obtained in respect of three houses and a Compulsory
Purchase Order in respect of thirteen houses.
An extensive survey was carried out under the Housing Act for the abatement
of overcrowding. This is dealt with on pages 61 to 66.
Mr. E. A. Abbott, a senior clerk in the Public Health Department, retired after
47years' service.
Dr. W. E. Snell, the Tuberculosis Officer at the North Islington Tuberculosis
Dispensary, resigned on his appointment as Superintendent of Colindale Hospital.
A report of very interesting work on the subject of " Alleged Cancer Houses" by
Dr. Snell appears on page 107 of this report. He was succeeded by Dr. J. W. Craig
on the 1st December, 1938.
I should like to express my thanks to the Members of the Council, especially to
the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Public Health, Maternity and Child Welfare,
and Housing Committees, for their sustained interest in the work of my department
during the year. To the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, the Assistant Medical
Officer, the Superintendent, and the members of the staff generally praise is due
for their efficient services. Although they had multifarious duties in connection
with air raid precautions, they did not allow the routine work of the department
to suffer, and gave ungrudgingly much of their spare time in the period of national
emergency. In this respect I have also to acknowledge the assistance given by the
Chief Officers of other departments.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
Medical Officer of Health.