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However, although much has been lost, much still remains
for the smaller Local Authorities to do in the prevention of
disease and in the more positive promotion of health. The
environmental health services still remain with the Local
Authority and although these are largely taken for granted,
nowadays, they are of vital importance to the health of the
community. The price of health is eternal vigilance and it is
still the duty of the Local Authority, through its officers, to be
ever on the alert to deal, at once, with any factors which are
inimical to the health and well being of the community. The
smaller Local Authorities, in other words, are still responsible
for the community aspect of disease even though the care of the
individual person has passed into other hands.
The widespread epidemic of poliomyelitis (infantile
paralysis) which began in the late summer of 1947, and which,
in the case of the Borough of Bexley caused 16 cases with 3
deaths is a reminder that the organisms which cause infectious
diseases, even those which give the appearance of having been
tamed into submission by improved environment and even by
active immunisation, may still undergo mutations the causes
of which are little understood and may, at any time, again rear
their heads with renewed virulence.
During the year under review the incidence of infectious
disease in the Borough was very low. For instance, there were
only 7 cases of Diphtheria with no deaths. Scarlet Fever
continued in the mild form which has been experienced over a
number of years and the one death which has been attributed
to it during the year was due to a relatively rare complication.
The numbers of cases of measles and whooping cough during
the year were 967 and 141 respectively, and there is no doubt,
that these two diseases are, nowadays, of prime importance in
connection with mortality and morbidity among young
hildren.
It is true that many victories have been won in the battle
of environment but equally true that this is by no means over.
The adequate housing of a large number of the people, without
doubt the most important environmental problem in the
Borough at the present time, is receiving and will, no doubt,
continue to receive for some years, the most urgent attention
of the Council.
Constant care must be supervised over food and water
supplies to ensure that neither reaches the consumer in such a
form as to threaten his health and efficiency.
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