View report page

annual report of
the medical officer of health
for the year 1938.
To the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the Corporation of London.
Public Health Department,
Guildhall, E.C.
July, 1939.
My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present my Annual Report of the work of my Department for
the year 1938. Throughout the year efforts to organise the Casualty Services under the
Corporation's A.R.P. Scheme have absorbed a great deal of the time of your Medical Officer
and other members of your staff. The problem is particularly difficult in the City, by
reason of the enormous day population and the small resident population. It is certain
that in the event of war the day population would be very greatly reduced, but the work
of the City could not cease nor could it all be transferred to other and less vulnerable areas.
The preparation of a scheme for dealing with casualties is therefore complicated by many
uncertainties and anxieties, and it is no doubt difficult for those who have no direct
responsibility, and who only hear and see what is, and what is not, achieved, to appreciate
the amount of work which has been added to the normal duties of your staff. Nevertheless,
I think this Report will show that the proper functions of this Department have been
efficiently carried out during the year, and I should like to pay a tribute to the manner
in which all the members of your staff have responded to the many additional calls upon
their time and energy.
During the year there were several changes in your staff. Dr. H. J. Sequira, who had
been the Public Vaccinator for the City of London for over 40 years, resigned as from
September 3rd, and has been succeeded by Dr. John Brock Bishop. Mr. E. A. Johnson,
M.B.E., who for eight years acted as Inspector and Official Sampler under the Fertilisers
and Feeding Stuffs Act, as an Officer under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking)
Act and the Merchandise Marks Act, died after a long illness. Both Dr. Sequira and
Mr. Johnson gave good service to your Worshipful Committee and were, in addition,
pleasant colleagues who are greatly missed by your staff.
Mr. C. R. Cox and Mr. A. E. R. Scott joined your staff as Sanitary Inspectors in October,
and Miss J. F. Scott was, in April, appointed Tuberculosis Nurse and Assistant Health
Visitor in succession to Miss M. H. Cook, who resigned on appointment as Health Visitor
in another district.
The many and varied activities of this Department are detailed in the following pages,
but I would direct attention of your Worshipful Committee particularly to the sections
dealing with Maternity and Child Welfare, Infectious Diseases, (Cerebro-spinal Fever),
Cremation, the Inspection of Food and Drugs, and the Administration of the Housing Act,
1936.
STATISTICAL INFORMATION.
Area.—The City of London (excluding The Temple) comprises an area of 66l acres
(excluding tidal water and foreshore), or 1.032 square miles.
The area of "Registration London" is 74,817 acres (excluding tidal water and foreshore),
or 116.9 square miles.
b2