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IX
Annual Report on the Health and Sanitary
Condition of the City of Westminster.
1933.
Mr. Mayor, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report for the year 1033.
It is an ordinary report as required by the Minister of Health in
Circular 1346. Only in the five yearly, or survey reports, does the .Minister
require the fullest information. In ordinary reports, developments,
alterations or extensions of services are expected to be commented upon
in detail, but other items, unless the subject of special reports by the
Medical Officer of Health may be discussed briefly.
Vital Statistics.
The birth rate again makes a record, the lowest known in Westminster,
8.7. The death rate is 12.4. The reduced incidence of, and death rate
from Tuberculosis, forms an important indication of the health of the
community.
Although unemployment, fortunately now decreasing, was prevalent
in the early part of the year, there appears to be no evidence that the
health of the people has been seriously prejudiced. In this connection
the observations from the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres on page 70
(a new feature in this report) are interesting.
Infectious Disease.
An increase in the incidence of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria is noted.
This occurred mainly in the autumn. There were some grounds for
assuming a higher infectivity in the case of Scarlet Fever.
Only one case of Smallpox, and that of the minor type, was reported.
The number of primary vaccinations performed in children continues to
show a creditable percentage in relation to total births, over 60 per cent.
Housing.
This subject has taken even a more prominent place in the work of the
department. The policy adopted by the City Council which, in some
measure, anticipated the Minister's Circular on slum clearance programmes