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COULSDON AND PURLEY URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present to you my Annual Report for 1946, this being my
fifteenth Report as your Medical Officer of Health. I very much regret
that owing to the sudden death of your Chief Sanitary Inspector early
in 1947 and the very considerable changes in staff which have since
occurred it has been impossible to complete the Report by an earlier date.
As foreshadowed in my Report for 1945 I have endeavoured to indicate
briefly, and where appropriate, the trends in the public health
and the development of the local Health Services during the 31 years
the Urban District has existed as such. This is, of course, in addition to
reporting in greater detail on the health of the District during 1946.
This, as judged by the available data, remained very satisfactory
throughout the year. The Birth Rate was the highest yet experienced,
the Death Rate continued to decline after its wartime rise, there was a
reduction in the total number of cases of infectious disease, and only a
slight rise in incidence among the general population due to mild scarlet
fever, while the Infant Mortality Rate was one of the lowest which has
yet occurred.
On the other hand it has to be remembered that these indices are,
even when subjected to further analysis, only crude guides to the state
of a community. A much more reliable assessment can be made of the
health of the younger sections of the population owing to the relative
completeness of the records relating to their sickness and the results of
regular medical examinations at infant welfare centres, nurseries and
schools. There is reason for gratification that, in spite of the influence
of war, the health of the children generally appears to be very good.
With no corresponding data regarding adults one can only judge by
general impressions. One would hesitate to say that there has been any
marked change in the sickness rate, but there are considerable doubts as
to whether the energy and stamina of the middle aged and more elderly
sections of the community are as high as formerly. It is, however, very
difficult to assess the degree to which post-war mental reaction and disillusionment
resulting from retarded world recovery, particularly in food
supplies, are underlying causes. It is easy to assume that given more
adequate and varied supplies of food vitality would correspondingly
increase, and to some extent this is almost certainly correct, but one has
to remember in every case the normal effect of advancing years, and the
profound influence of mental outlook upon the physical condition of
people. It is very unfortunate that at this time a substantial proportion
of the organs influencing public opinion, emphasise unduly the discouraging
facts and circumstances in life, thereby tending to undermine
morale. Inevitably after a world war, upheaval and prolonged unsettlement
must result but, without cowardly escapism, hope and the
enjoyment of life can and should be encouraged by more emphasis on
the good, beautiful and successful aspects of our corporate existence.
There are very many grounds for justifiable optimism and pleasure, and
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