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5
Preface to Annual Reports of the Medical Officers of Health,
Woolwich, Plumstead, and Eltham,
To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the Annual Reports of
Professor Smith for Woolwich Parish, of Dr. Moore for Eltham,
and my own Report for Plumstead, for the year 1900.
I may point out that Dr. Moore was under serious disadvantages
in preparing his Report, having temporarily succeeded
his father, the previous Medical Officer of Health for Eltham,
who died suddenly in the autumn, and, consequently, not having
full knowledge as to the statistics of the Parish.
The population of the Borough, as found at the recent
census, is 117,165. On the supposition that the increase since
the previous census has been uniform, the population in the
middle of 1900 was 115,490. Calculated from this basis, and
figures given in each report, the Borough Birth Rate was 28.6,
the Death Rate 17.8, and the Deaths under one year per 1,000
births 146.
You did me the honour of appointing me Medical Officer of
Health in November last, but my appointment was not confirmed
till the 19th January, when I became responsible for the health
of the Borough.
The staff of the Health Department, as appointed by the
Health Committee in January, is appended.