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may not be spectacular, and although it is sometimes difficult to
see the results of that work over a limited period, we can still bring
to bear a very significant influence upon the health, both of the
community and of the individuals who make up that community.
When it is remembered that the Public Health Department is
responsible for all the work carried out by the Sanitary Inspectors,
for epidemiology, in itself a vast and extremely important phase
of preventive medicine, disinfection, rats and mice destruction,
health education, to mention only the most important aspects of
our work, it will be realized that the services which we provide,
although reduced in number, nevertheless constitute an integral
part of the life of our Borough.
We must also remember that it is our duty to ensure that the
standard of living in Wood Green is not allowed to deteriorate.
This is never an easy matter in a fully built-up area, so near the
heart of the metropolis. It will scarcely be necessary to point out
that, although all the activities of the Borough Council are directed
towards achieving this end, the work of our Sanitary Inspectors
contributes materially to the same, very desirable object.
So far as the health picture for 1952 is concerned, the pattern
was pleasing. There were no major epidemics or outbreaks of
infectious disease, except for the occurrence of a comparatively
large number of measles cases, mostly of an extremely mild
character. The Infantile Mortality Rate, i.e., the number of
children dying within the first twelve months of life for every
1,000 births, was the lowest yet recorded in Wood Green, a state
ment which gives me very great pleasure to be able to record.
These matters will receive more detailed attention in the body of
the report, but it can, meantime, be stated once again that 1952
was a placid, uneventful year, a state of affairs for which any
district has every reason to be thankful.
I should like to conclude this introduction by expressing my
thanks to the Borough Council and to the Public Health Committee
for their unfailing support and encouragement since I took up my
position as Medical Officer of Health. I have been very conscious
of this support and courtesy, which has assisted me greatly in my
work. I should also like to express my thanks to the entire staff
of the Public Health Department, especially to Mr. W. McCauley,
Senior Sanitary Inspector, and Mr. W. T. Gloster, Chief Clerk.
I have received the fullest and most whole-hearted co-operation from
all members of my staff, a co-operation which made it easy for me
to succeed my eminent predecessor, Dr. Manson.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
W. C. HARVEY,
Medical Officer of Health.
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