View report page

to make use of posters- leaflets, the magazine "Better Health",
special exhibitions and booklets talks and film shows for the
purpose of furthering knowledge in the field of health. I am very
happy to think that I have always received the cordial co-operation
of the Borough Council, the Public Health Committee and our local
editors. I am equally happy that my staff has supported me with
commendable enthusiasm and that I have been privileged to address
so many local organizations
As I have already stated, statistics have little life. Nonethe
less. I felt that the Council would be interested to compare
the vital statistics for 1906, 1931 and 1956 They are surely
illuminating: eloquent evidence of the fight which Wood Green has
constantly waged to conquer disease In reading the report for
1906, one cannot help but be struck by the positive ideas expressed
therein It would certainly appear that the Council and its
officials were well aware of the problems with which they were
faced and were using such weapons and such knowledge as they then
possessed to carry on the fight. We must be truly thankful that
our knowledge has so vastly increased, and that the weapons at
our disposal are now so plentiful
I would like to quote here, without comment, one paragraph
from the section of the Report for 1906 written by Mr Adams, the
Sanitary Inspector:-
"All of us have seen the country cowshed, with its cobblestone
floor its dark, unventilated condition, and the malodorous
smell from the adjacent manure heap without any proper dung-pit,
the cows milked by the picturesque men and maidens straight from
various duties, without any attempt at cleansing, to send the
"new pure milk" to its various destinations, is it any wonder
that municipal authorities are driven to municipal dairies, etc. ,
to give the children a proper and sufficient milk supply".
May I conclude this Report by once again thanking the Public
Health Committee and the Borough Council for their unfailing
support and encouragement which has been of the very greatest
help to me since I took up my duties as Medical Officer of Health
in Wood Green in 1952 I would also thank the members of the
PublicHealth Department for their excellent co-operation. Although
I would refer particularly to the assistance rendered by my Deputy,
Dr. J R Campbell, Mr W. McCauiey, Chief Public Health Inspector,
and Mr. P V Ingram Chief Clerk, everyone in the Department has
pulled hisorher weight asa member of an efficient, conscientious
team,
I am, Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
W. C, HARVEY,
Medical Officer of Health,
11