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3
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
AND
SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
For the Year 1937.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present herewith my tenth Annual
Report, being the thirty-eighth of the series, dealing with the
health of Croydon, and the various branches of the work carried
out under the Public Health, Housing, Foods and Drugs, Mental
Deficiency and other Acts and Orders. There is also incorporated
ray report to the Education Committee as School Medical
Officer.
The form of report is unaltered. It is divided into sections,
each section dealing with a particular branch of the work. It is
hoped that those who are more especially interested in one branch
will find this convenient.
Epidemiology and Vital Statistics.
The health record of the year was unfortunately marred by
an outbreak of Typhoid Fever in parts of Croydon supplied by
the High Level Water Supply. A full report on the outbreak will
be made at a later date.
This outbreak, though not so extensive as an outbreak in
another Southern town in 1936, obtained very great publicity.
Upon representations made by a group of citizens, who formed
The South Croydon Typhoid Outbreak Committee, the Minister
of Health decided to hold a Public Inquiry into the causes giving
rise to, and the steps taken to combat, the outbreak. This
Inquiry is the first of its kind to be held. It opened on 6th
December, when an adjournment was made until 21st December
from which date it continued until 12th January, 1938.