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1
BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
Public Health Department,
Walworth Road, S. E.17.
The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Metropolitan Borough of Southwark.
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting my Annual Report for the
year 1952.
During the year under review the health of the Borough
remained satisfactory. There were no alarming outbreaks of
infectious diseases; in fact, there was a reduction of this type
of case by almost a thousand cases as compared with the year
1951. In spite of this great diminution of the infectious diseases,
statistics unfortunately show an increase of the infant mortality
rate by as much as ten per thousand births. The principal
causes of this rise in infant deaths are due to a considerable
increase in the deaths from congenital malformations and
pneumonia.
The most alarming experience of the year was the week of
fog experienced in the early part of December. During this
week deaths were treble their usual number and it is due to
this fact that the general death rate for the year was higher
than usual. The after effects of the fog remained with us for
several weeks after its dispersal. I reported fully to the Health
Committee at the time and there is also a reference to it in the
body of the Report. I would like to add, however, that so long
as we persist in "keeping the home fires burning" with soft
bituminous coal the danger of a similar occurrence is ever with
us.
The work of the Department during the year was very heavy
as the figures in this Report indicate. Some of this increase was
due to the renewed activity of the Council of its powers and
duties under the Housing Act, particularly that in connection
with the clearance of old and out-dated property of which there
still remains much in the Borough.