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7
the year. The cases were apparently mostly mild and the disease accounted
for only two deaths. No other infections were unduly prevalent,
while the incidence of scarlet fever was particularly light. The death
rates for these infections were mostly lower than the national figures.
During the year the district lost the services of Mr. A. B. Kramm
who, though eligible to retire some two years before, volunteered to
continue to serve, an offer which was gratefully accepted. Mr. Kramm
was appointed as sanitary inspector to the Harrow-on-the-Hill Council
in 1902, so lived through the period of transition of the reorientation of
the health services, seeing the entire growth of the personal services, a
development likely, it would seem, to culminate in the nationalization
of the medical services. His many years of devoted service were acknowledged
by the Council when at their meeting in July, the following
resolution was passed:—
"That the Council record their sincere appreciation of the long and
efficient service rendered to the district by Mr. A. B. Kramm as Senior
Sanitary Inspector and wish him many years of health and contentment
in his retirement."
It is customary before printing the annual report to await the
receipt of the Registrar-General's figures for inclusion. These are the
official figures which vary somewhat from those compiled locally. It is
undoubtedly an advantage to be able to include them, while at the same
time they do enable a comparison to be made of local and national rates.
This year the figures did not arrive until a particularly late date, though
at the best of times they did not come before some time in May. It is
a question of whether the advantage of postponing the production of the
report so as to be able to use the information the Registrar-General
supplies is not outweighed by the delay in the report reaching those who
might possibly be interested if it should be in their hands nearer the time
to which the report relates.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
CARYL THOMAS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Council Offices,
Harrow-on-the-Hill.
June 28th, 1946.