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Medical problems could lose us this war, as they have
lost many wars in the past. One must remember this fact
and refuse to allow ourselves to,be deviated from a path
which Local Government in "this country.has wisely elected
to follow.
Before concluding,.-this introduction to the
Annual Report for 1940, I would make, reference to two
specific points relating to conditions of war.It will
be understood that the death rate for 1940 includes the
total number of civilians who lost their lives in consequence
of enemy action. While it would not be politic
to set out the exact number of civilians so killed, it
might be stated that the total in this, category accounts
for the slight rise in the 1940 death rate. The second
point concerns the shelter problem, This problem has
not been acute in Southgate, and it is not, therefore,
possible to draw any important conclusions, either
positive or negative, from the period under review.
It will be obvious that the use of air raid shelters,
whether domestic, communal or public, has not thus far
increased the infectious sickness or morbidity rates for
the area; while there is no evidence to show that the
general sickness rate has risen/to any appreciable degree
This is satisfactory, but must not be taken to mean that
the use of air raid shelters is'devoid of any Ptiblic.
Health danger. We must keep the possibilities very much
in front of oiir minds and be prepared at arfy time to deal
with an environmental problem of unknown magnitude,
Finally, I wish to tender my. thanks to the
Members of the Borough Council and also to my Staff for
their assistance and support throughout the year,
without the wholehearted co-operation of every one
concerned, the work of the Public health Department
could not continue, and I am especially grateful at a
time like this to be able to report the- existence of
this co-operation.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
W. C. HARVEY,
Medical Officer of Health.
Southgate Town Hall, N.13. Nov.1941.