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2
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Borough of Erith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In presenting my first report, I have to thank you for
the very real help which you have given me during my first
year of office. It is always a difficult one and I found many
problems which were successfully solved by the confidence
you placed in me.
Two important additions to the health services were
introduced with your encouragement. Firstly, the appointment
of two part-time obstetricians, Drs. Carrie and Daly, to
the Medical Staff of Hainault Maternity Home, and the
adjustment of fees to include medical attention to those who
had no doctor or were unable to afford it. I considered it
unsatisfactory that a home like Hainault should be run
without expert medical assistance within immediate call. It
was a great worry to the Matron that she might not obtain
a doctor in an emergency were he out on his rounds. The
whole-time medical staff were fully occupied in the clinics
and not always instantly available. Now Matron has always
one doctor who will be instantly available, at any time of
the day or night. The arrangement is working very satisfactorily
and I feel we are very lucky to have the expert
services of two such first class medical men.
Erith and district has always been notorious for its
mosquito menace during the summer, and your introduction
of the Pest Control Service to control all domestic pests is
praiseworthy. The results have been beyond expectations,
mosquitos being almost exterminated from the borough and
rats down to 50 per cent. of the former population.
The infectious disease incidence was average, showing no
great variation. The epidemic of poliomyelitis and encephalitis,
which reached such alarming proportions in the rest of
the country hardly effected Erith. Only six cases of poliomyelitis
and one of encephalitis were notified and received
treatment. Of these seven cases, five were under five years
of age. It is difficult to arrive at the reasons for the comparative
immunity obtaining here. Many factors must be at work,
but general good health and therefore good immunity must