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METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM
Report
OF THE
Medical Officer of Health
for the Year 1955
E. H. R. Smithard, MBE, MD, DPH
CONTENTS
Page
Staff 2
Introduction 3
Vital Statistics 8
General Provision of Health Services 20
Sanitary Circumstances of the Area 32
Housing 41
Inspection and Supervision of Food 47
Infectious Diseases 54
Appendix A — Statutory Instruments 64
„ B — Legal Proceedings 65
„ C — Special Reports to Health Committee 67
„ D — Houses in Multiple Occupation 68
"The chief function of the Medical Officer of Health is to
safeguard the health of the area for which he acts by such means
as are at his disposal "He should endeavour to acquire an
accurate knowledge of the influences, social, environmental, and
industrial, which may operate prejudicially to health in the area
"While he has special duties for the prevention of infectious
diseases, all morbid conditions contributing to a high sickness rate
or mortality in the area from these or other causes should be
studied with a view to their prevention or control."
—from the Ministry of Health Memorandum on the duties of MOHs