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Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
St. Marylebone, W.i.
25th June, 1936.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of
St. Marylebone.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour as Medical Officer of Health to submit my annual report
on the Health of the Borough of St. Marylebone during the year 1935.
In accordance with the instructions of the Minister of Health the present report,
like its predecessors of the last few years, is an "ordinary report" and more or
less in the nature of an outline. In it I believe there will be found sufficient
evidence to show that good and valuable work was done. As is indicated in the
body of the report considerable changes were made in the personnel of the staff on
the medical side particularly. Owing to the retirement of Dr. J. Donaldson Saner
a vacancy occurred and this was filled by the appointment of Dr. B. W. Anderson.
Though he had actually only been in the service of the Council as Tuberculosis
Officer since 1921, Dr. Saner has been in charge of the Dispensary for over
seven years previously as an officer of the Voluntary Committee. During that
period he had co-operated with the other members of the Public Health staff,
proving himself indeed the very acceptable colleague that he ultimately became
when the Council took over the conduct of the Tuberculosis Scheme. As evidence
of the value attached by the Council to the work done by Dr. Saner it may be
mentioned he was twice granted an extension of service of one year, and on his
departure the Council placed on record an expression of their appreciation of the
value of the work he had done. I desire here to associate myself with the views
of the Council and to express my regret at the loss of a colleague so skilled
and so kindly and loyal. To Dr. Anderson, the successor to Dr. Saner, I should
like to offer a word of welcome here, as I would also to Dr. W. H. S. Wallace,
whose appointment as Assistant Medical Officer of Health and Maternity and
Child Welfare Officer was necessitated by the transfer from the Marylebone Health
Society of the duties in relation to Maternity and Child Welfare work at various
clinics to the Council. In addition to welcoming these officers I express to them,
as I do to all the members of the staff, my sincere thanks for the help they gave
me personally and the loyalty they displayed. Finally, to the Public Health
Committee, and its Chairman, Councillor Dr. Fuller, who has occupied this
important position on a number of occasions, I am particularly grateful for the
unfailing support they gave me and the kindness and consideration they have
always shown me.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
your obedient Servant,
CHARLES PORTER,
Medical Ofjicer of Health