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PUBLIC OFFICES,
ENFIELD.
28th March, 1935.
Annual Report of the Medical
Officer of Health, 1934.
To the Chairman and, Members of the
Urban District Council of Enfield.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
I beg to place before you my 8th Annual Report on the health
of the District.
Once again the Department has had to face the difficulties
associated with a developing District necessitating the expansion
of existing services.
In 1933, 1,417 houses were completed by the Council and
private enterprise; during 1934, 1,238 houses were completed, all
by private enterprise. The Department has, therefore, had to cope
with 2,655 more houses than two years ago.
In connection with Infectious Disease the year was noteworthy
for the fact that no single Enfield resident died of either Scarlet Fever
or Diphtheria. This is the first time I have been able to record such
an occurrence, and incidentally, during the course of the year I
only received 37 notifications of Diphtheria, which is the smallest
figure that has occurred within my recollection.
Towards the end of the year the Council determined to grant
facilities to the residents of the District for obtaining immunisation
against Diphtheria. I have detailed the plan that has been adopted
within this Report, but so far the scheme has not been in operation
sufficiently long to judge as to the demand of the District for
protection against Diphtheria.
It is a most unfortunate fact that the average person seldom
seeks protection against disease until disease is upon him and it is
too late. In the case of immunisation against Diphtheria, immunisation
cannot be obtained till three to six months after the last