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Borough of Southwark.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Walworth Road, S.E.
Dear Sir and Gentlemen,
I have the honour of submitting for your consideration my twentyseventh
Annual Report which deals with the vital statistics and general
sanitary work of the Borough for the year 1913.
The health of our inhabitants during the year has been generally
good. In the latter part of the year scarlet fever of a mild type was
very prevalent among children. The mildness of the attack in a large
number of cases caused the complaint to be overlooked, and it was only
when the peeling stage appeared that the true nature of the disease was
apparent.
The provisional tuberculin dispensary was carried on throughout the
year by the Medical Officer of Health. The usual days and hours were
devoted to the work. Many of the patients whilst undergoing the
treatment were able to resume work, and were discharged as established
in health after from 8 to 12 months' attendance at the dispensary.
The supervision of imported food stuffs at the wharves has been
admirably carried out by the Inspector charged with that work. Large
quantities of unsound food have been destroyed which, without such
supervision, would have been consumed by the public.
The operations under the Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, have
not been an unqualified success. The labour has been great, but the
result has been small and disappointing. I have to thank the officers
who assisted me with the work.
The verminous condition of many of the houses in the Borough
is a serious hindrance to public health, and I believe is often the cause
of the spread of infectious disease.
I have to thank the staff under me for their ready assistance and
the Public Health Committee for their courtesy and support.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
G. B. MILLSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
To the Mayor, Aldervien and Councillors
of the Borough of Southwark.