View report page

3.
died of this condition. Of the remaining two-thirds, more than
half were due to malformations(6) and violent causes (2), while
the rest died of pneumonia, only two being from gastro-enteritis.
Even under the age of 5, the only deaths were one each from
whooping cough and measles, while the school age group of five
deaths accounted for our only death from diphtheria (not immunised)
two from pulmonary tuberculosis, one from nephritis and one street
accident. Of the total deaths in the Borough, heart disease was
the principal cause, accounting for more than one quarter of the
whole. Of the remainder, more than a quarter were due to cancer
(110). Infectious diseases exacted a very small toll apart from
the 35 consumptive deaths (0.77 per 1,000) and the three children
already mentioned. The numbers of attacks of measles were
increased to more than double, but, the age of incidence being
higher, it must be presumed that more were of the "Rubella'
(German measles) type, Whooping cough diminished both in numbers
attacked and in deaths, but diphtheria showed signs of increasing(from
12 to 21 cases), especially in the school population. It is
hoped that the increased numbers being immunised and "boosted" in
this latter group, will produce an improvement in the years to
come. The most notable drop in any infectious disease was again
scabies. So great was this decrease that the Borough Council has
decided that the continuance of our own personal cleansing station
is uneconomic, and the Finsbury Borough Council's cleansing
station has recently taken over these duties.
The Sanitary Inspectors' staff saw several changes in
personnel, but we were able to maintain the numbers over the
greater part of the year, so that a great increase in the routine
inspection of premises under Housing Act 1936 Section 5 was
possible during the year, as well as continuing to cope with the
continuous flow of complaints. It was also possible to keep a
better check on the Outworkers under the Factories Act, 1937. The
realisation of the extreme importance of a pure food supply led to
one of our more senior Sanitary Inspectors (Mr. R. A. Bishop)
being detailed full-time to this work (as stated fully in the
body of the report). Only one casa of food poisoning was notified,
(and this resulted from a duck-egg eaten in the country).
The Rodent workers destroyed at least 15,000 rats in the
year, and have thus saved the loss of many tons of valuable foodstuffs,
even if the incalculable numbers of mice killed is
ignored.
The Borough Councils Welfare services have become perhaps
the most comprehensive Borough-Council-sponsored of any in the
country, this section of the department now covering the fulltime
services of our ex-Superintendent Health Visitor, as well
as a Social Welfare Officer,2 Assistant Welfare Officers, and
the staff of our Holiday Home in Surrey. Full co-operation with
the local Old Pople's Welfare Committee and the W.V.5.is fostered
also,meals being supplied not only in the homes of the housebound,
but in the full-time "Bell Pensioners' Club".