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4
Health Department, Council House,
Hounslow.
2nd October, 1916.
To the Chaiunan and Members of the Heston and Isleworth
Urban District Council.
Gentlemen,
I beg to submit herewith my Report for the year 1915 as
your Deputy Medical Officer of Health. In accordance with the
circumstances of the time, the Report has been simplified and
cut down considerably as compared with previous years.
The vital statistics for the year compare somewhat unfavourably
with those for recent years, although the death and infant death
rates for this district are still better than those rates in the country
as a whole. This is strikingly shown in the graphs which have
been drawn by the Chief Clerk and appear on Pages 7, 8 and 11.
The persistent and rapid decline in the birth rate is a subject
for serious consideration. As will be pointed out, however, the
shifting of population arising out of War conditions renders it
inadvisable to rely too much upon the statistics for the year under
report.
The valuable scheme of Maternity and Infant Welfare Centres
formulated by Dr. Strain, was carried into effect during the year
and has resulted in very useful work being done in the conservation
of infant life and health.
The resignation of Mr. L. Marsden has led to the further
reduction of the Inspectorial Staff from originally four to two,
which has necessarily involved a curtailment of sanitary work.
It is, however, to the credit of the inspectors who remain that
the volume of work done has reached such a comparatively high
level. Some difficulty has been experienced in securing the execution
of necessary 6anitary work owing t,o the financial and labour
restrictions arising out of the War, and an extra allowance of tact
and patience has been called for. Despite the substitution of
temporary girl clerks for the male clerks who have enlisted or
left, I am glad to record that the office work is conducted efficiently,
both to the credit of the Chief Clerk and the goodwill of his
assistants.
I cannot conclude without a very sympathetic reference to
the great loss which the Council and the Department have sustained
in the death of Dr. Strain. My personal feelings of respect and
sorrow at this untoward event are, I know, shared by every member
of the staff who has served under the late Medical Officer of Health.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
W BRAMWELL REID,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health.