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iii
GOLDEN JUBILEE
1900 — 1950
Southwark celebrated its Golden Jubilee as a metropolitan
borough in 1950; it was created a borough in 1900 following the
Local Government Act of 1899.
One of the earliest functions of its first Public Health
Committee was to provide a bacteriological service at Guy's
Hospital to assist medical practitioners in dealing with suspected
infectious diseases. Soon afterwards, the first Public
Analyst was appointed for the examination of food samples.
There have been many important changes in Public Health
during the ensuing 50 years, including the creation of the
Ministry of Health, and the establishment of the Maternity
and Child Welfare, School Medical, Tuberculosis, and Health
Insurance Services, and the introduction of the new Public
Health and consolidated Housing Acts.
Between 1936 and 1939 the Council had replanned and
reconstructed the Treatment and Bathing Centre and built the
new Health Services Department—which at that time was
probably one of the most up to date and best equipped buildings
of its kind—with a complete scheme of health services
second to none. These services were severely curtailed by the
outbreak of war, and with the introduction of the new
National Health and National Assistance Acts, which robbed
the Council of its personal health services, many plans for
their further development were shattered.
It is interesting to note the strides made in the prevention of
infectious diseases during this last 50 years. In 1901 Southwards
notifications of Smallpox, Scarlet Fever, and Diphtheria
alone exceeded the total of all infectious diseases notified in
1950. There were 161 deaths from Measles, 14 from Smallpox,
54 from Scarlet Fever, 98 from Whooping Cough, and 53 from
Diphtheria. In 1950, however, the total deaths from all
infectious diseases was 65, only 9 of which were due to diseases
other than Tuberculosis.