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5
It is the sole object of all local government that the civic
worth of the individual be maintained; the pauper, the
mentally defective and the inebriate have no civic worth
and yet much civic money is spent on them. Unfortunately,
these classes are, as a rule, highly fertile, and unless
some form of control is placed upon their fertility, money
spent will continue to be ineffective.
It is true that the life of a nation is built up from
below, and it must be a happy indication that the
lower social scales are showing marked improvement,
not only physically, but socially. The School Medical
Report brings this matter clearly before us, for the elementary
school child to-day is a vast improvement on the
elementary school child of even 30 years ago. The
sanitation and care of the homes have improved be
yond measure; the sanitation of schools has reached a
high level, but some of them still are far from being
model exhibits. Personal hygiene which has been
consistently taught for years in schools, in the Maternity
and Child Welfare, School Medical Services, and in
all Public Health services, is bringing about the
daily practice of hygiene in all spheres. Agreed that
matters are not yet ideal; we still have roller towels in
schools, unprotected foodstuffs in our shops and markets,
and one still finds the occasionally neglectful housewife,
but vast improvements have already occurred in the past
30 years, and if the next 30 years bring a like improvement,
the public health officers will no longer be accused
of being idealists.
I would again wish to acknowledge the excellent help
and co-operation I have received from each member of the
staff, and especially from Mr. Woods and Mr. Lawley, who
have helped so much in preparing this Report. During 1930
we lost two valuable members, Dr. Sands, the Assistant
Medical Officer of Health, and Miss E. McAllester,
Health Visitor, both of whom left us to be married, after
giving long periods of excellent work in the Public Health
Service of Bromley.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
K. E. TAPPER.
Medical Officer of Health.