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PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Forty-first Annual Report on the health of
the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich. It is much shorter than most of its
predecessors, but it is hoped that although much is not published, there is yet
sufficient to enable readers to assess how war conditions have affected the health
environment of, and health services available for, the inhabitants of this Borough.
On grounds of national security, I am requested by the Ministry of Health not
to publish complete tables of local populations, but I can say that the Registrar
General estimates the population to be less than it was in 1940. It is not possible
also, to give both vital statistical figures and rates because from these it would
be easy to calculate the estimated population, but I can say that the birth rate was
lower, the death rate was higher, and the infant mortality rate (42) was higher than
they were the previous year. The actual figures follow. The number of births
was 1,530, the number of deaths under one year was 65, and the total number of
deaths was 1,627. The detail of causes of death will be found in Table No. 1. The
number of maternal deaths was 2.
The sanitary administration of the Borough was satisfactorily maintained
during the year, despite the many extra claims on the Department. All complaints
were investigated and dealt with. The abattoir of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative
Society was closed in October. The number of animals slaughtered during the
period it was open in 1941 was 60,986. Two Sanitary Inspectors, with the necessary
labour, were engaged throughout the whole year on the inspection of drains
damaged in raids. As a result the rat nuisance did not assume any serious proportions
in the Borough. It was possible to resume, on a small scale, the cyanide
fumigation of furniture belonging to families allotted houses on the Council's Housing
Estates.
Infant welfare sessions were held in every part of the Borough, on practically
the same scale as in pre-war days, as were ante-natal and post-natal sessions.
Treatment sessions were limited. Eltham Health Centre, which was being used
as a First Aid Post, was completely demolished by enemy action in March. The
issue of clothing coupons to expectant mothers, and fruit juices and cod liver oil
to children, was new work undertaken by the Maternity and Child Welfare Service.
The Council's war-time programme for day nurseries was settled during the year
although the first day nursery was not opened until the beginning of 1942. The