View report page

BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Public Health Department
Town Hall,
Walworth Road, S.E.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Dear Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In, presenting my Report for the year 1927, the questions of the
cold and wet summer and general meteorological depression have had
a definite influence on the types of illness prevailing as the annexed
tables show, there having been a marked diminution of cases of illness
and resulting deaths from diseases which occur, as a rule, during hot
summer months and an increase of catarrhal and pulmonary complaints,
The population as estimated by the returns of the Registrar General
has declined by 4,350 to a total of 184,250. The death rate is 13.4,
an increase over 1926 of .7, and the birth rate has again declined being
19.0 as against 20.9 in 1926.
I am pleased to report a further fall in the infantile mortality rate,
which is only 61 per thousand births, as against 70 in 1926, and an
average of 69 during the last five years.
There has been a general decline of mortality from infectious disease
with the exception of whooping cough, which disease was probably
influenced by the climate in common with other pulmonary complaints.
During the year there was a change in the staff of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Organisation, Miss C. Sims, M.B., B.Ch., D.P.H.,
being appointed whole time Medical Officer and Dr. Stevens taking part
time work at the Surrey Square Centre and relinquishing her post as
a whole time Officer.
The following new Regulations came into force in 1927, and are
being carried out by your staff.
(1) Preservatives in Pood.
(2) Milk.