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The mortality from cancer (p. 20) continues to increase. Some increase appears to be inevitable
with a larger proportion of the population surviving to high ages, unless future research brings to
light not only means of curing the disease but also of preventing its occurrence. At present the
outlook cannot be described as hopeful, our only practical treatment at present available being
early surgical interference.
As regards administrative work, attention may be invited to the serious difficulties attaching
to endeavours to improve the housing conditions. The Borough may be described as "full to the
brim" and until more houses in the districts immediately adjacent to Paddington are available,
there is no hope of making any progress towards improvement. The opportunity for a housing
scheme by the County Council on a large scale on the N.W. boundaries of the County is rapidly
passing away.
The discontinuance of the contract for disinfection marks a notable change. Messrs. Armfield have
done the work for the Vestry and Council for over fifty years. In future such work will be done by
the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington. In this connection it may be noted that an advance
has been made to provide more complete machinery for dealing with verminous conditions (p. 41),
by the Agreement with Kensington for the use of the Medicinal Baths provided by the Council of
that Borough. Body vermin are more than suspected to be active propagators of certain of the
infectious diseases, a fact which makes the provision of disinfestation the more necessary.
It is satisfactory to record that Regulations (p. 38) have been made prescribing the compositions
of dried and condensed milks.
After full inquiry the Public Health Committee decided that an additional Sanitary Inspector
was required to cope with the work of the Department, a decision which was endorsed by the Council.
Up to the time of writing the Minister of Health had not signified his approval of the appointment.
It will be necessary for the Council at no distant date to take the question of accommodation of the
Staff of the Department into consideration. The space at present available is badly congested.
All the Staff have discharged their duties loyally and efficiently. Mr. Potter, the Chief Sanitary
Inspector, and Messrs. Gower and Dunning, of the Clerical Staff, have materially lightened my work.
Prior to the war the work of the Department was controlled by one Committee; now there are
three Committees and two Sub-Committees (each very largely autonomous). That change indicates the
growth of the work of the Department. I have to express my acknowledgments to the Chairmen
and Members of the Committees and Sub-Committees for the generous support afforded to me in
my efforts to discharge the multifarious duties attaching to my office.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
O.B.E., M.A., M.B., D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
Paddington, W. 2.
June 30, 1924.