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St. Pancras, London.
THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
BEING THE REPORT FOR THE YEAR 189O.
TO THE VESTRY OF ST. PANCRAS.
Gentlemen,
In presenting the Thirty-fifth Annual Report a few words calling
attention to the more important events that have taken place daring the year
in your Health Department form a fitting introduction to the more elaborated
portions of the report which I have the honour to lay before you.
The increase in the Staff of the Department by which a Chief Clerk and four
unattached Sanitary Inspectors have been added and the reorganization resulting
therefrom have already impressed a marked change for good on the work of
the Department. Equipped with the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890,
with the Regulations for Houses let in Tenements, framed under the Sanitary Acts
of 1866 and 1874, passed by your Vestry during the year and confirmed by the
Local Government Board last August, and with a complete code of Drainage
Regulations adopted by your Vestry later on, it will be possible in the future to
render a better account of the work accomplished by your Health Department
than in the past. One important matter of organization remains still uncompleted,
namely, the institution of a proper periodical collection of domestic refuse
the lines on which this should be organized will be found fully described under
the head of Refuse Removal in the body of the report. It is much to be desired
that your Vestry should complete this matter at as early a date as possible, with
the stringent clauses of the Public Health (London) Bill, looming in the distance.
With regard to disease, the Influenza committed havoc at the commencement
of the year of which due cognizance is taken below. The low vital
condition of Somers Town is a matter of some bearing in connection with
the insanitary condition of certain areas. Possible reasons for the
increased mortality from diphtheria daring the last three years are found
discussed under the proper head. The additional legislation upon infectious
diseases has necessitated and facilitated what previously could not be attempted,
namely, the organisation of a method by which the prevention of infectious
diseases may work so smoothly as to be almost automatic. The manner
in which this takes place is described under the head of Notification. The Infectious
Disease Prevention Act besides facilitating procedure in the prevention of
disease has imposed an important duty and responsibility upon Local Authorities
in making it compulsory to provide temporary shelter during disinfection for the
poor whose limit of dwelling accommodation is restricted to one or two rooms. In
the absence of a shelter and of any instructions from your Vestry your Health
Department has no alternative but to offer the shelter of the Vestry Hall to the
refugees. Some points in connection with the provision of a shelter will be
found in the body of the Report under disinfection.
Other points of interest need scarcely be raised here and it is desirable to
proceed to the more detailed report commencing as usual with a meteorological
summary for the past year.