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TO HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF PADDINGTON.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my Annual Report for the year 1929 as required by
the Statutes and Orders applicable to my office.
During the year the health of the Borough continued to be generally good, but, in common
with all parts of the country, the death-rate was somewhat higher than it had been for many
years owing to the prevalence of catarrhal and respiratory diseases. For instance, 131
deaths were directly attributable to influenza and 335 to bronchitis and pneumonia, as compared
with 27 and 219 deaths respectively in the previous year.
A serious outbreak of whooping-cough caused 71 deaths, 69 of which were those of children
under the age of five years.
Cancer continues to be more prevalent year by year, and the number of deaths from this
disease was greater than in any previous year. This is the more remarkable since an appreciable
number of cases of cancer are now being cured by new methods of treatment.
A mild type of smallpox was prevalent in London during the year, but this Borough
was fortunate in having only three cases reported.
The infantile mortality of the Borough still causes the greatest anxiety. It was last
year the highest recorded in any of the metropolitan cities and boroughs. It is evident that
all the details of administration must be perfected in their working if this condition of things
is to be improved. It appears, however, impossible to point to any one reform which would
of itself reduce our infantile mortality to any appreciable extent.
The first Health Exhibition to be held in the Borough was an outstanding feature of the
year. The general impression was that the trouble and expense involved was justified by
the good resulting.
I have again to express my appreciation of the loyal help of the staff of the Public Health
Department of the Council and to thank the members of the Public Health, Maternity and
Child Welfare, and Special Housing Committees for the support and kind consideration which
they have extended to me during the past year.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant
G.E. Oates.
M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.H .
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Paddington Green, W. 2.
June, 1930.