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mentioned in previous reports, the detection of defects in children at as
early an age as possible, is now well established. The problems of the
future education of handicapped or potentially handicapped children are
considered from the time of diagnosis of the defect—the pre-school era
being utilised in the full as an assessment period for each child. This
assessment carries on into school life, thus allowing appropriate changes to
be made in line with each child's medical, social and educational progress.
Some difficulty was experienced with the school eye clinics during the year
due to the Regional Hospital Board being unable to fill the vacancy for an
ophthalmic surgeon. The services of a locum surgeon were provided during
the year and it is hoped there will be a more permanent appointment in
1969.
It was with deep regret that on the 7th September, 1968, we heard of
the death of Dr. E. W. Caryl Thomas, and I feel that this annual report
should contain some record of a man who, for 28 years, was Medical
Officer of Health for Harrow.
Eric Caryl Thomas was born in 1896 and received his medical
education at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, graduating M.B., B.S.,
in 1921 proceeding to M.D., and taking the D.P.H. in 1923. He first
worked as an Assistant School Medical Officer to the London County
Council, was later appointed Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham and
then became the first Medical Officer of Health to the new Harrow Urban
District Council in 1934. He became a barrister-at-law, Middle Temple in
1928 and the Area Medical Officer of Health, Area 5, Middlesex County
Council, in 1948. Dr. Thomas retired in 1962.
During his period of office, Dr. Thomas built up a public health
department of which the Borough could be justifiably proud. Actively
engaged in the years before the war in developing the various branches of
the health services for which the Council was responsible, it was a great
disappointment to him when the National Health Service Act transferred
the personal health services to the County Council in 1948. Nevertheless,
he continued his good work in this field, having been appointed Area
Medical Officer of Health under the County Council's scheme of
decentralisation of certain of the personal health services. He saw many
changes in the field of public health during his term of office, but at all
times coped in his usual calm and efficient manner. His retirement seven
years ago left a considerable gap in the ranks of the elder public health
officers.
In June, 1968, Mr. Stuart Wharton, Chief Administrative Assistant
in the Department, retired after 41 years of Local Government Service.
Mr. Wharton's career in Local Government commenced in the service of
the Wealdstone Urban District Council in March, 1927. With the
amalagamation of districts, he was transferred to the Department of the
Medical Officer of Health for the newly formed Harrow Urban District
Council, on the 1st April, 1934. As a result of the National Health Service