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great increase in the amount of this work, but this was set off in some measure by
the fall in the amount of disinfection owing to the great reduction in the number
of cases of infectious disease. It was not possible to continue cyanide fumigation
of furniture prior to occupancy of houses on the Council's Housing Estates, and
resort had to be made to older and not so reliable methods. House to house
inspection was discontinued, and slum clearance work wholly ceased.
Of maternity and child welfare it can be said that the basic preventive services
were maintained on a slightly reduced scale but probably little short of the pre-war
standard because of the fall in the number of the population. It was only possible
to continue the treatment services, however, with the exception of the provision of
maternity beds, in a reduced form. All other ancillary services have been maintained
although less use has been made of them.
So far as tuberculosis work is concerned, the local services are now pretty much
as they were in pre-war days, with the exception of the occupational therapy scheme
of the Tuberculosis Care Committee which had to be discontinued.
Although the number of births in Woolwich fell from 2,133 in 1939 to 1,840
in 1940, the Registrar General estimated that the population fell from 150,800
to 124,340, and as a result the birth rate rose from 14.1 per thousand to 14.8. The
number of deaths increased from 1,592 to 1,854, and as a result the death rate rose
from 11.1 to 14.9. So far as causes of death are concerned, the largest increases
were in the number of deaths from bronchitis and in those from violence, under
which head, deaths resulting from enemy action are classified. The infantile mortality
rate was 36, compared with 49 in the previous year. It is the lowest figure
ever recorded in the Borough.
There was little infectious disease in the Borough during the year ; there were,
for example, only 61 cases of diphtheria and 128 of scarlet fever. Other notifiable
diseases were similarly reduced in number with two notable exceptions ; the incidence
of pneumonia was average, while the number of cases of cerebrospinal
meningitis rose from 9 to 32.
In conclusion, it gives me great pleasure to be able to say that the Department
met more than adequately the demands made upon it, due entirely to the hard
work put in and the zeal shown by every member of the permanent, temporary and
war-time staffs. I desire also to acknowledge the help given to us all by the Chairmen
and members of the Committees on Health and the Chairman and members
of the Emergency Committee in dealing with the local medical and sanitary problems
of the war, and to thank the Council and the members of these Committees for the
continued confidence placed in the Department and myself during the year.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. MACMILLAN,
Medical Officer of Health.