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PREFACE.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Edmonton, N.9.
His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of
Edmonton.
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in presenting my twelfth Annual Report for the year
1946. The report is compiled in accordance with the Ministry of Health Circular
13/47 and contains therefore only a brief outline of the health circumstances
relating to the Borough.
Although the war terminated more than two years ago, we are still
endeavouring to counteract the effects of the after-math and to bring up to
normal standards the health services of the Borough.
So far as sanitation is concerned this will be a difficult and prolonged task,
on account of the short supply of materials and manpower. Quite a number
of the repairs carried out under war conditions are showing signs of deterioration
and complaints are therefore arising in frequent number because of such defects.
Added to this, we have the ordinary wear and tear defect, which in the ageing
houses of Edmonton is proving to be more frequent than desirable.
I regret to have to announce that the incidence of Tuberculosis in the District
shows a slight increase. I hope the day is not far distant when Mass Radiography
and other schemes for early diagnosis will be freely available to the General
Public in order that the advance gained over the last' half-century will be maintained
in future efforts against this disease.
To those who have been doubtful in the past about the effects of immunisation,
I can now commend them to the incidence of Diphtheria in the Borough;
if we progress at the same rate over the next 5-6 years and the people become
educated to the benefits of immunisation, I see no reason why Diphtheria as a
disease should not become as scarce as Smallpox. I have every reason to believe
that the Edmonton citizens will do their duty in having their children immunised
at an early date, as our appeal for this work has always met with a reasonably
good response. There are, however, some who still maintain the idea that
immunisation is injurious; there is some little risk, but the general benefit
accrued is so great that it completely negatives any risk which may be involved.
I am happy also to relate that immunisation against Whooping Cough is
becoming popular, although we cannot give it the same guarantee as in the case
of Diphtheria. I can, however, say that some benefit is given to the children
either by prevention in a reasonable percentage of cases and modification of the
attack in others.
BIRTH RATE shows an increase, which is only an indication of what is
happening throughout the Country, and should, I think, satisfy the minds of
those who think by 1960 the Nation will consist of old people.
DEATH RATE. There is a fall in this rate, which further adds to the
hope that the future population will not entirely consist of Old Age Pensioners.
It is also a credit to the Borough that the considerable number of those who
died were well over 70 years of age and some over 80 years of age.
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