Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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Although the lectures were primarily intended for mothers
booking at Thorpe Coombe, by arrangement with Miss Rodway it
was possible for mothers having their babies at home to attend
the lectures.
10. Cancer Education.—The leaflet of advice printed in the
1951 Report is available for distribution.
11. Deaths possibly associated with Fog, December 5th/8th,
1952.—At the request of the Ministry of Health enquiries have
been made into this matter. Seventeen deaths occurring between
the 5th and 15th December last were reported to Her Majesty's
Coroner and the exact cause of death became known by PostMortem
Examination. Of these 17 deaths, two were Chingford
Residents dying in Walthamstow, and were therefore excluded.
Enquiries were made into the other 15 cases, but since one
lived alone and had no known relatives no information was
available.
Of the remaining 14, fog was considered by the relatives to
have been contributory to death in only four cases. These were
females aged 61, 77 and 80 years, and a male aged 68 years. The
cause in all 17 cases was either Cardiac or Respiratory or a combination
of both and it appears possible that the extra handicap of
the fog may have upset the compensation which normally operated.
The youngest person to die in this group was aged 51 years.
The findings have been sent to the Ministry of Health and
will be submitted to a special Committee, which it is understood
will consider all the evidence available from Greater London.
A full analysis cannot be carried out until the final Return is
received from the Registrar General later on in regard to those
Walthamstow residents who died outside the district during the
quarter ended 31st December last.
12. Reconstruction.—Gradual elimination of the scars of war
proceeded by the clearance and fencing of bombed sites and by
the provision of small gardens and seats. The disintegration of
dwarf forecourt walls following the war-time removal of iron railings
continues, but individual improvements by re-building increase
and with a variety of styles and materials.