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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 twentyNinth
Annual Eeport which deals with the vital statistics and general
sanitary work of the Borough for the year 1915.
The health of the inhabitants of the Borough, although the deathrate
has slightly risen in the year under consideration, has been good.
Scarlet fever which had been very prevalent in the two preceding years
(1913-14) markedly declined. Measles at the end of the year showed an
increased incidence.
A scheme under the head of Maternity and Child Welfare has been
submitted to the Council. The first part, viz.:—the establishment of
branches has been carried out. The second part, the provision of a
Centre, is awaiting the pleasure of the Council.
The cleanly state of the Borough has declined since the war commenced,
chiefly due to the diminution (40 per cent.) in the Male
Inspectoral staff. The plea put forward by many landlords that workmen
cannot be obtained to cleanse and repair houses is often made an excuse
to avoid doing work, and is not always strictly accurate.
The very strict examination of imported food-stuffs increased the
work of the Pood Inspector, partly due to the immense quantities of food
needed for the Army, and partly to the number of damaged cargoes
landed at our wharves. Large quantities of unsound food have been
destroyed. The work of the department in these difficult times, as far as
I know, has been carried out without complaint.
1 have to thank the Council and 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, Aldermen and Councillors.
of the Borough of Southwark.