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10
Borough of Bromley.
Report of the Medical Officer of Health
for the year 1937.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors.
Ma. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen,
The year upon which I am now submitting my report
to you is to be particularly noted for its meteorological
condition; a high rainfall followed by a comparatively
dry season. It may seem strange that a statement of such
a nature should be made in a Health Report, but the
pioneers of Public Health laid great stress on this as a
factor in the epidemic constitution. So the year 1937 adds
some proof to their contention; we had the Croydon
Epidemic of Typhoid; the wide-spread prevalence of
Sonne's Bacillary Dysentery; an increase in Poliomyelitis
and in the incidence of intestinal infections.
The year too was noteworthy in that the Central
Government gave prominence to Health as a policy of
national importance, and sought to stimulate public interest
by means of wide-spread propaganda in a " Fitter
Britain " movement. The main item of advice to the
public was to use the various clinics and services provided
by the local authorities. The public in Bromley need no
such encouragement, and I advised against propaganda
in Bromley for the services are, in my view, sufficiently
efficient to advertise themselves as is shown by the large
attendances made at the centres and clinics. I have
enough trust in public opinion to know that they would
not use a service that was not of value to them.
The year will be memorable too for the fact that the
new Public Health Act, 1936, came into operation during
1937, re-placing our well-tried and trustworthy friend of
1875. Other Acts, such as the Factory Act, Shops (Sunday