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4
COUNCIL OFFICES,
HORNCHURCH.
30th September, 1946.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Hornchurch Urban District Council.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg herewith to present an Interim Report on the work of
the Public Health Department for the year 1945, written with
reference to Ministry of Health Circular letter No. 28/46 dated
11th February, 1946.
The report is in the abbreviated war-time form in accordance
with the Minister's suggestion, but it is hoped that future reports
will not be subject to the same restrictions on their size.
The health of the District was again maintained during the
year under review, the only exceptional feature being a marked
increase in the incidence of measles as compared with the previous
year.
The year 1945 witnessed the end of hostilities in Europe and
the Far East and it was soon evident that the problems of the
peace were such as to tax the resources of the community to a
greater degree than had been generally realised, if the accumulated
unsatisfied demands of the war years were to be met with a minimum
of delay, since prolonged delay could only lead to a sense
of frustration on the part of the individual citizens.
At the end of the year Dr. Alfred Ball relinquished his duties
as Medical Officer of Health for the District, thus bringing to a
close a long and meritorious career in the public service of the
area extending over '25 years. Dr. Ball had experienced indifferent
health for some time and it was this that finally compelled his
retirement on 31st December, 1945. Many tributes have been pnid
to Dr. Ball both publicly and privately and it was obvious from
these that he commanded a very deep and sincere respect from