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4
Public Health Department,
43, White Horse Street,
Stepney, London, E.l.
20th May, 1937.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney.
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the annual report upon the health
and sanitary conditions of the Borough of Stepney for the year 1936.
This report is, for the most part, presented by me on behalf of the late
Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Archibald Ferguson, whose lamented and
untimely death it is my sad duty to record, occurred during the year, on 14th
September. Dr. Ferguson who was absent on sick leave from February only
returned to duty for a brief period of two weeks in May.
It was my privilege to work with Dr. Ferguson, firstly in the Tuberculosis
Department in 1931, and for the last three years as his Deputy during his
Medical Officership of Health. I know I am voicing, not only my own feelings,
but those of all the staff when I say that no kinder, no more conscientious or
more likeable colleague could one possibly have hoped to work for.
Dr. Ferguson, as Medical Officer of Health, carried out the administration
of the department with zest and earnestness that few could equal, and the
remarkable number of reforms in the department and new public health
schemes introduced into the Borough during his short three years of office
are a lasting tribute to his industry and enthusiasm. Not a few of the many
services provided by the Borough Council, the activities of which are recorded
herein, came into being during his period of office. I need only refer to the
following, viz.: The reorganization of the food section and housing section;
the disinfestation section, with its staff and special hydrocyanic disinfesting
chamber; the new model tuberculosis dispensary and the reorganising of the
tuberculosis service; the diphtheria immunisation clinic; the home.help
service and the maternity nursing service. All these were the fruit of Dr.
Ferguson's effort and organising initiative. Full of enthusiasm for the future
and devoted to his duty, the tragic unexpectedness of his end is brought home
to us by the final words of his last annual report, "I end this report in
a spirit of definite optimism, for the department can now look forward to
many years of uninterrupted routine."
* * * *
The year, in many ways, was not an easy one for the department, there
being considerable temporary depletion of staff arising from various causes.
It was inevitable that the unfortunate illness of the late medical officer
necessitating his prolonged absence from duty, should be reflected in some
interruption of the year's programme, arresting the progress of matters awaiting
his return, although much was accomplished during the year and many new
schemes commenced to function,