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Medical Officers the best that Willesden could do. The interchange of ideas, too, between men who
came from countries where health administration is not of a high standard was also helpful in the light
of the organisation that exists in Willesden. I am quite sure that periodical visits of this nature
are highly beneficial, not only to the visitors, but also to the officers who are engaged in the Public
Health work administered by the Local Authority as well as to the members of the Authority itself
who had the opportunity of meeting those distinguished doctors from other lands.
This interchange of Public Health personnel is provided for by the Health Organisation of
the League of Nations and, in addition to the direct benefit to Public Health, it must be regarded as
a practical expression in the domain of Public Health of the principles of international co-operation
that underlie the whole of the activities of the League.
OBITUARY.
Within less than 12 months the department has suffered the loss of two of its principal officers.
Dr. W. J. J. Stewart.—Dr. W. J. J. Stewart, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital
since February, 1903, died in June, 1925, after more than 22 years faithful service with the Council.
Dr. Stewart held an outstanding position amongst Medical Superintendents of Isolation Hospitals
in this country. He was recognised as an authority on Infectious Diseases and on Isolation Hospital
Administration. Within recent years his health was not good, but characteristically he continued
to place his duty first, and did not give up work until late in February, 1925. The many letters
received by the Council on the occasion of his death from parents who had had children under his
charge in the Hospital bore testimony to the high esteem in which he was held by the public.
Mr. H. de L. Woods.—As this report is in the press the untimely death of Mr. H. de L. Woods,
who had been in the Health Department of the Council for 35 years and Chief Sanitary Inspector for
27 years, has occurred.
I had been associated with Mr. Woods for over 13 years, and during that time I saw him
practically every morning.
I can testify to the keen interest that he took in his work and to the great assistance he was
to me in carrying out the laws in relation to housing, nuisances and food supply, so far as they were
entrusted to the administration of my Office.
Mr. Woods' work was always well done, and he spared himself in no way to give of his best to
the Council. His experience of the health needs of Willesden was invaluable to the department, and
his advice on all sanitary questions was invariably sound and reliable.
The Staff join with me in mourning the loss of an able colleague, a wise counsellor and a loyal
friend.
Your Obedient Servant,
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.