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ii
and such increases are in line with those in the country as a whole.
In the field of infectious disease the Report refers in particular to a greater
than average number of queries in regard to smallpox mainly due to speedy air travel
between this country and parts of the world where smallpox is still common and to the
record number of measles cases in 1961 which was the continuation of the outbreiak which
commenced in the latter part of 1960.
There were four confirmed cases of diphtheria, two were fatal but the circumstances
of the outbreak detailed: in the Report were somewhat exceptional Poliomyelitis seems
well on the way to becoming a rare illness. There was only one confirmed case during the
year and there can be little doubt but that this situation would not have been achieved
in the absence of active immunisation on a mass scale.
Housing
The social health and housing problems due to the preponderance if Islington houses
being large elderly out of date and in multiple occupation have now receive some
recognition in the provisions contained in the Housing Act, 1961 which came into force
at the end of the year Local Authorities have been given greater powers than previously
for dealing with adverse conditions in such types of houses including the provision of a
code of management to ensure proper standards of management and powers by which the Local
Authority may carry out work in default of the owner should this be necessary and to recover
the costs incurred Whether the Act will be sufficient to assist with improvements being
carried out on a major scale will however remain to be seen
The personnel problem, due to an inadequate number of experienced Public Health
Inspectors on the staff - a problem which has been mentioned unfortunately over the past
few years in the Annual Reports - has not improved during the year The inadequacy of the
technical staff must necessarily limit the amount of work which can be done by the Department
both under the Housing Act and in the other branches of the Public Health Inspectors"
work
The Playford Road Clearance Area, comprising 44 houses was declared as such by the
Council following representation and the Monsell Road Area of 14 houses was the subject
of a Clearance Order confirmed, by the Minister of Housing and Local Government
Legisl
at ion
and
Problems
Apart from the Housing Act, 1961, mentioned above the Factories Act, 1961. now
supersedes the Factories Act of 1937 The Licensing Act, 1961, empowers Licensing Justices
to deal with applications for licences for restaurants guest houses and clubs An
application may be refused if the premises are not considered suitable or convenient. There
has been a tendency for the establishment of clubs in private houses particularly in basements
and the Licensing Act should assist in the control of such premises
The Consumer Protection Act, 1961, replaces the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act
1952 and the Oil Burners (Standards) Act, 1960. but the Regulations made under the previous
Acts are still in force
Pollutior
of the
Atmof
sphere
In order that the survey of the Borough for declaration of Smoke Control Areas might be
expedited the Council agreed to establish two Technical Assistants to help the Public Healtk
Inspectors engaged on Clean Air Act duties The earlier programme has therefore been
accelerated and the Report includes some information on the revised programme. Four Smoke
Control Orders were made during the year, covering areas in the north and south of the
Borough, and all the Orders were due to become operative in 1962. Atmospheric pollution and
respiratory illness, particularly bronchitis have been shown to be closely associated The
incidence of bronchitis in Islington has always been high and it is hoped that the
diminution of atmospheric pollution through the gradual extension of Snoke control Areas in
this and adjoining Boroughs will in course of time have a beneficial health effect
Changes in air pollution are being carefully monitered through the Department's own
instruments, and an additional pollution recording site has also been set up in the north
the Borough by the scientific staff of the London County Council. Atmospheric pollution
recording is carried out by the Department in close conjunction with the Department of