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STMARY 22
Public Health Department,
24, Somerset Street,
Portman Square, — .
London, W. 1.
28th June, 1918.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough
of St. Marylehone.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Again this year, as last, and for the same reasons, my annual report is a
brief summary only of the work done in respect of certain of the more important
matters. For the reason that I have to record a serious outbreak of measles and an
increase in the infantile mortality rate as a result entirely of that outbreak, it is not
by any means so satisfactory a report as most of its predecessors. Though unsatisfactory
it is not a discouraging report, mainly because it shows that there was
re-action to the unfavourable circumstances and that the Public Health Committee
under the chairmanship of Councillor Sir Horatio Shephard and later of Councillor
E. Sanger, L.C.C, helped and encouraged every effort that was made to deal with
the outbreak and to maintain and improve the health of the inhabitants. The help
and encouragement thus given are valued and appreciated not only by myself, but
by all the members of the staff of the Public Health Department, and I take this
my only real opportunity of tendering my thanks to the Committee.
At the same time I desire to thank the staff and to record my appreciation of the
admirable way in which they have worked during the past year. Particularly I wish
to say how much I appreciate the readiness with which they agreed to undertake the
additional duties imposed by the orders of the Food Controller. Willingly undertaken
the work, which was often difficult and not always pleasant, was well done,
and I am very grateful.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
CHARLES PORTER.