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2
H(1 ).
Public Health Department,
Council Offices,
Erith.
The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of
the Borough of Erith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the
work carried out by the Health and School Medical Services
of the Council for the year 1939.
In apologising for the late appearance of this Report, I
would state that besides the war effort interfering with the
work of the Department to such a degree as to render its earlier
publication impracticable, the figures of the Registrar General
were received much later than usual.
As it has been the aim in this town to make the Annual
Reports each year, volumes of reference as well as an annual
review of the work of the department, despite considerable
difficulty, the Report has again been completed in much the
same form as previous years.
Although I am presenting the Report, I must state that
the work it reviews was carried out under the direction of my
predecessor, Dr. A. Wallace Johns who left Erith in March,
1940, to take up an appointment with the Merton and Morden
Lrban District Council, and I should like to express my sincere
thanks for the willing assistance and guidance he afforded me
when I assumed the position of Medical Officer of Health to
Erith.
The sections of the Report reveal the fact that, despite
the declaration of War and the consequent diverting of the
efforts of practically the whole of the staff of the department
to the completion and organisation of the Casualty Services, an
active policy in public health was pursued.
With regard to Air Raid Precautions, I wish to report
that the Casualty Services were organised and completed in
accordance with the directions given in the various Circulars