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TO THE CHAIRMAN AND COUNCILLORS OF
THE LEYTON URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
Gentlemen,—
In presenting this, my Second Annual Report, I am glad to be
able to show that the general health of the district continues to be
satisfactory. Embodied in the report will be found comparisons ot
the sickness and death rates of England and Wales, and the
76 great towns, with our own. In all cases, except the birth-rate,
the comparison is favourable to us. The year has been marked
by many reforms and additional duties imposed upon us by fresh
legislation. In this category the Education Act of 1907 stands out
pre-eminently, and we may congratulate ourselves on having made
a very real start in putting its provisions into operation. The Prevision
of Meals Act has been adopted. The Notification of Births
Act you have not yet considered it advisable to adopt, and although
I recommended its adoption, I could not, in the face of our comparatively
low Infantile Mortality Rate, make out a sufficiently
strong case to alter your decision. The consideration and adoption
of my advice to appoint two extra sanitary inspectors taking place
at the same time that you considered the adoption of this Act, no
doubt weighed considerably in the balance against its adoption, as
I showed that no good was to be done unless I had one or two
extra lady health visitors. The Public Health Act, 1907, contains
some extra provisions, which are absent from former Acts, and
from our own private Act; these provisions we are seeking the
necessary permission to adopt. The Notification of Phthisis (Poor
Law Cases) Act comes into force on January 1st, 1909, and will be
reported in next year's report.
The appointment of the two extra Sanitary Inspectors, above
alluded to, was really absolutely necessary, and hag already been
productive of much good. We are now able to do the work in a
systematic manner, which formerly, with our very limited staff,
was impossible. The increase in the accommodation for patients
in the Isolation Hospital by the erection of the new ward block
must be mentioned as another improvement and attempt to maintain
the public health of the district.
I have again to thank you for your invariable courtesy in considering
my suggestions, which courtesy has materially smoothed
my path and made my work the easier, and I hope and believe
the more advantageous to the dwellers in our district.
I am, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. FRANCIS TAYLOR,
Medical Officer of Health.