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6
children under five years of age will provide an essential
foodstuff to counter to some extent the ravages of illnourishment.
I do not propose to discuss in detail here the many
administrative perplexities brought about by the organisation
of the Casualty Services within the framework of
the Health Department. All this complex organisation
has demanded an unprecedented effort from the staff; the
stress of this work, which dates from 1938, has been great,
but with the excellent co-operative effort between staff
and civil defence personnel I feel confident that when the
supreme test is applied the services will adequately meet
any demand.
Following the outbreak of war the routine work of
the Department suffered curtailment, which was necessary
whilst the first-aid posts, stretcher party depots, and
ambulance services were placed on a war footing. The
Municipal Midwifery Service carried on in full and
essential public health matters only were dealt with.
Within two or three weeks of the outbreak of war the
welfare centres were again fully functioning, the work
of the Dental Clinic, Minor Ailment Treatment Clinics
and the Special Clinics were resumed, although the schools
were functioning on a voluntary part-time basis. With
the re-opening of the schools in January, 1940, it was an
easy step to place into operation a full school medical
service and to begin the special nutrition survey.
We were fortunate during the autumn in being
singularly free of notifiable infectious disease, in fact, the
whole year gives a very low incidence of the common
types of infectious disease, especially scarlet fever and
diphtheria. Also, fortunately, there was no excessive
causes of sickness or invalidity in the area, if one excepts
the prevalence of influenza (so called) during the earlier
months of the year.
New and important statutory powers and duties were
conferred on the Council under the Food and Drugs Act,
1938, which came into operation on 1st October, 1939.
This is a consolidating Act repealing and re-enacting with
amendments previous legislation in order to secure simplification,
uniformity and conciseness in the law regarding