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standing an increase in the deaths from Measles. Westminster ranked
among the three lowest of Metropolitan districts in respect of deaths
from infectious disease.
An account is given in the body of the Eeport of an extensive
outbreak of Scarlet Fever, transmitted by milk, which affected the
south-western part of London and suburbs. Fortunately, it was
restricted in Westminster by the early stoppage of the infected milk.
A Memorandum, prepared by the Medical Officers of the Local
Government Board and the Board of Education, has been issued, dealing
with public health administration for the prevention of the spread of
infectious diseases among school children, in which it is pointed out as
essential that the relations between the local sanitary authority and
the local education authority should be intimate and cordial. Attention
was drawn by this and other Councils, before medical inspection was
inaugurated, to the need for mutual co-operation; but at first the
Education Committee in London rather ignored the Borough Councils;
latterly, however, the former has recognised that the policy was not
conducive to the best interests of the public, and during last year
conferences have been held between the medical officers in order to
come to an agreement on general lines of action.
Special attention has been directed to the subject of Tuberculosis,
especially with regard to consumption of the lungs (Phthisis). Increased
interest was stimulated by the issue of an Order by the Local
Government Board, making it compulsory that all poor-law cases
should be notified to the local authority; and a valuable memorandum
on the administrative measures which might be adopted was issued by
Dr. Newsholme, the Medical Officer of the Board.
Through the instrumentality of the Westminster Health Society,
the National Association for the Prevention of Consumption allowed
its Tuberculosis Exhibition to be held for a fortnight at Chelsea
Town Hall, that being a convenient centre for Fulham, Chelsea, and
Westminster. Lectures were given on various aspects of the subject.
It was attended by over 9,000 persons, including 800 children, with
their teachers, from twelve schools in Westminster. The Health Society
has, moreover, taken further steps to bring about concerted action by
the various agencies, lay and medical, in the City.
In its work among the poor, the Society is constantly being confronted
with problems relative to the unsatisfactory surroundings of
those suffering from tuberculosis, to the fact that patients frequently
come under treatment so late in the course of the disease that there is
little hope of any real improvement in their condition, and to the
danger in which other members of the families of patients are placed.
On the 21st October, 1909, a Conference was held at the City Hall