View report page

7
meats for presentation to his Association and for publication later.
His summary and conclusions are, with his agreement, included in
this Report.
Housing progress was well maintained and at the end of the
year there were 5,384 properties under management by the Housing
Department, i.e., an increase of 440 over 1957. Progress continued
in regard to the redevelopment of slum clearance areas, and it will
be remembered that last year's Report stated that all the actual
inspections of dwellings in the five year programme had been
completed during 1957. The redevelopment of areas 1 to 6 shows a
"profit" of fifty-seven dwellings in regard to the sites of the 378
former dwellings in these areas.
The contributions of my colleagues, the Borough Architect,
Engineer and Surveyor, and the Housing Manager, and extracts
from the annual reports to the Housing Management and the Reconstruction
and Housing Committees are included, and show the
great progress made.
With regard to communicable diseases, their total incidence
was slightly less than during 1957, there being more cases of
dysentery, erysipelas and scarlet fever, but less of food poisoning,
measles, poliomyelitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Bacillary
dysentery was again prevalent from February onwards and 170 of
the 230 total cases were under fifteen years of age. This continued
incidence seems to be largely due to the neglect of parents in sending
children to school in an unfit condition, in many cases bound up
with the desire of the mother to continue at paid work and also to
the continued neglect of adequately washing the hands after using
the water closet.
Reference is made to the chronic typhoid carrier for whom
responsibility is shared between the Borough Councils of Chingford
and Walthamstow. The carrier condition has now lasted for at
least twenty-two years.
Concerning tuberculosis, the increasing notifications for the
last three years came to a stop during 1958 with an abrupt fall to
the lowest incidence ever recorded and also the lowest death rate
from tuberculosis. This distressing disease is by no means yet
eradicated, but steady progress is being made.
With reference to health education, the Borough Council
took an active part in supplementing the work done through the
Health Area Sub-Committee of the County Council.
A list is given by the Borough Architect, Engineer and
Surveyor of the public conveniences erected since 1922. It has been
a matter of great pleasure to hear several expressions of appreciation
from members of the public in regard to the excellent provision
which has been made in Walthamstow and not least, the free
facilities which have existed for many years. It seems to be an
example which many other areas, might copy with advantage.