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disease were notified from September to December. This was
particularly noticeable in the case of Scarlet Fever, which had
shown a definitely increased incidence from the beginning of the
year until the end of August. The sudden cessation in notifications
of this disease was remarkable and can only be explained by assuming
that although cases continued to occur, they were mild in
character, and the assistance of a doctor was not requested.
7. The Sanitary Inspectors were all allocated to special
duties in connection with A.R.P. work and for the first three
months of the war they gave a great deal of time to the lay-out
of the Aid Posts and to instruction of volunteers in anti-gas
measures. The amount of slaughtering done during the year
showed a further increase over 1938, but owing to government
control, slaughtering has entirely ceased in the district during the
present time.
8. Housing conditions in the district show no change, and it
has not been possible to deal with the large number of applicants
on the lists except by the utilisation of the new estate at West
Wickham. The cessation of building is to be regretted, as I am of
the opinion that there is still a shortage in the Borough of houses
for the working classes.
9. The School Medical Service was seriously interfered with
owing to the closure of all schools. As soon as possible arrangements
were made to pick up the threads of the work again and at
the present time the service is being conducted on almost normal
lines, although the removal of the children from school to school
has created considerable difficulty.
10. The nutrition of children in war time needs special attention
and the Committee have authorised the expenditure of £750
for the forthcoming financial year, to supply milk to school children
and deserving cases.
11. The statistics shown in the table at the end of the report
cover only the work for the first nine months of the year and this
fact should be born in mind when making any comparison with
last year's figures.
12. I should like to express my unqualified appreciation of the
work done by every member of my staff in dealing with the difficulties
and problems which arose in the emergency, and I am
satisfied that the Beckenham services have been adapted to meet
the exigences of war time satisfactorily, although no one can say
what the future holds in store for us. I should also like to express
my thanks to the Committee for the interest and support which
they have given to the work of the department.
T. PHILIPS COLE,
Medical Officer of Health.
VITAL STATISTICS
BIRTH RATE.
After allowing for inward and outward transfers during the
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