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PREFACE.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Edmonton, N.9,
Hits Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Edmonton.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, t,
I have much pleasure in presenting my eighth Annual Report, for the year
1942, and the third under War-time conditions. The Report is compiled in
accordance with Ministry of Health Circulars, and as requested therein, certain
vital statistics have been omitted for security reasons.
The BIRTH RATE shows a very great INCREASE which was unexpected on account
of the National disturbance. It is to be noted with great satisfaction the
DECREASE in MATERNAL MORTALITY in Edmonton, and compares very favourably with the
rest of the Country. The DEATH RATE has shown likewise a very satisfactory
DECREASE. It will be noted however', that there is an INCREASE in the INFANT
MORTALITY RATE of approximately 3 per 1,000 live births; on analysis 59 of the
total of 83 are due to Congenital Malformations and Premature Births, so that
actually the result is somewhat mors satisfactory than is at first apparent.
I would like however, to draw attention to the fact that there are very poor
facilities in the Borough for attending to Premature Births, and none at all under
the control of the Edmonton Borough Council.
It will bo noted that the Tuberculosis incidence has decreased during the
your 1942, this is very satisfactory during war conditions. There was an increase
in the incidence in SCARLET FEVER, but the disease continued to be of a mild typo.
It should be noted that Scarlet Fever as well as Diphtheria, although much milder
than it used to bo, has its danger in the complications which follow, those complications
are far more liable to occur under home nursing conditions than in hospital.
IMMUNISATION has at last received the serious attention of the parents, but I am
not yet satisfied with the number of children who have received this treatment.
Every effort is being made by the staff to persuade the parents to have their
children immunised against Diphtheria.
It is to be regretted that the incidence of SCABIES is on the increase.
a good deal of this increase is unfortunately due to the people themselves who are
unwilling to seek advice, and it is with difficulty that we get cuite a number of
the population to carry out our advice whom cases are detected,
I am greatly concerned about the limitation of housing accommodation in the
Borough and the persistent overcrowding mostly occasioned by the influx of
relatives of some residents both from other areas and from evacuation.
In 1942 the Civil Defence assumed more regular proportions and due to our
experience in the previous year wo are inspired with great confidence and a
greater sense of discipline which made administration of this difficult service
more satisfactory, but I would say that much in the line of discipline is yet to
bo desired before Civil Defence can be said from a casualty standpoint to be recognised
as a standing force of key value. I would like however to say how much
I appreciate the great efforts that are being made by some in bringing about a
better understanding and dealer working order for the benefit of all concerned.
Before I leave this subject I must pay tribute to the fine work carried out by
Dr. R. Greville Samuel, Medical Officer, A.R.P. Services who left us to join the
Royal Navy.
Several changes have taken place amongst the staff during the year and I
would like to record my thanks for the valuable services rend red by Mr. T.Marsden,
Assistant Shops Acts Inspector who left us to take up an appointment at Coventry
as District Sanitary Inspector, and also th Mrs, H.Fouler,. Woman Snnitary Inspector,
who unfortunately had to retire owing to ill health after some 15 years service,
I would like to offer my congratulations to Mr. E. Doasworth, District Sanitary
Inspector on obtaining the Diploma of the Royal Sanitary Institute in Sanitary
Science as applied to Buildings and Public Works, and to Mr. F. Roddell, formerly
Motor Driver Mechanic in the Public Health Department on his appointment as Civil