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PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan
Borough of Lewisham.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the year
1936 on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough, this
being the thirty-sixth of the series.
A summary of the vital statistics is given on page 6, and it
will be seen that the corrected death-rate, 10.9 per 1,000 of the
population, is slightly higher than last year.
The birth-rate also showed a slight increase, being 13.0 per
1,000, as against 12.5 last year.
An increase in the number of deaths of infants under 1 year
of age from 119 in 1935 to 163 in 1936 resulted in a corresponding
rise in the infant mortality rate, from 43 per 1,000 births to 55 per
1,000. An exceptional number of infantile deaths from respiratory
diseases was the principal cause of this increase.
The incidence of infectious disease again remained at a rather
low level.
The Maternity and Child Welfare scheme has continued to
work satisfactorily. The new Health Centre in High Street,
Lewisham, which contains both the Tuberculosis Dispensary and the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, was opened by H.R.H. the
Duchess of Kent on May 7th, 1936. In the last-named building
there are now held every week four Clinics for mothers and infants,
four for expectant mothers, two sessions for the Sunlight Clinic,
the diphtheria Immunisation Clinic at frequent intervals, while the
Catford Voluntary Infant Welfare Centre occupies the building on
two afternoons each week.
Prominence has been given in my report to the Ministry of
Health Circular relating to the medical inspection and care of
children under school age. It will be obvious that the steps taken
by the Council to give effect to the Minister's suggestions will throw
a considerable amount of additional work on the Department.
I again desire to express my appreciation of the consideration
shown to me by the Chairman and members of the Public Health
and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees, and to thank my
colleagues, the chief officers of departments, and the staff of the
Public Health Department for their loyal support and assistance.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
John W. Miller,
Town Hall, Medical Officer of Health,
Catford, S.E.6,