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Although the number of notifications of tuberculosis was higher, this did not mean
that all cases notified were new as a number of the people concerned had previously been
notified in other districts and subsequently admitted to a hospital in Southall. The
number of deaths from tuberculosis, i.e. 9, was the lowest ever recorded in the Borough
and is a more satisfactory guide to the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention and control
than the notification figure, as it seems possible that cases are now being diagnosed
sufficiently early for their lives to be saved by proper treatment; but the fact that the
disease is still occasionally discovered after death or notified very shortly before death gives
urgency to the need for Mass X-ray examination of the general population. During the
last two years an analysis has been made of the housing conditions of new cases of
tuberculosis and no evidence has come forward to suggest that statutory overcrowding or
poor quality of housing has any material effect on the incidence of this disease. The
number observed so far is however still too small for a confident deduction to be made.
Work on the welfare of the aged and chronic sick increases each year and these cases
require a considerable amount of visiting and investigation. The County Welfare
Authority, the Hospital Almoners, the National Assistance Board and the local Old
People's Welfare Committee are all helpful and every effort is made for old people referred
to this Department as being in need of care and attention to be aided in all ways in order
to prevent action having to be taken for their compulsory removal under the National
Assistance Act. There is a new awareness of the value of certain services for old people
which can be provided at little cost and which may result in a great improvement in the
physical and mental well-being of the people concerned. The new chiropody service
operated by the Old People's Welfare Committee, meals on wheels, holidays and excursions
for old people and home visiting, combined with the service provided by the County Home
Helps may often enable a previously house-bound or bed-ridden person to become mobile
and able to live a fuller and happier life.
The number of visits paid by the Sanitary Inspectors shows an increase of 526 over
the previous year. As the need for attention to defective housing was lower during the
year evidenced both by the number of visits required and by the figures for the number
of dwelling houses found not to be in all respects fit, i.e. 680 for 1951 and 612 in 1952,
more concentrated attention on hygiene of food by visits paid to food shops, food factories,
etc., was possible, and intensification of the work on rodent control is shown by the fact
that the number of visits paid for this purpose were more than double those for 1951.
The observations of atmospheric pollution maintained throughout the year were
showing extremely satisfying results and new record low figures had been obtained during
the months of July and August but these were vitiated during November and December
by the occurrence of heavy atmospheric pollution during the great London fog.
In an endeavour to make this report a comprehensive one information has been
requested from many sources and I should like to thank the County Medical Officer, the
Area Medical Officer, the Secretary of the Uxbridge Group of the North-West Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board, the Medical Superintendent of St. Bernard's Hospital, the
Physician of Uxbridge Chest Clinic, the County Public Control Officer, Chief Officers
of the Borough Council and all those who have supplied statistics and reports. I should
like also to extend my sincere thanks to the Chief Sanitary Inspector and to all members
of the Departmental Staff in acknowledgement of their help in the preparation of this
Report and also for their loyal support at all times.
I am, your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
Margraet a glass
Medical Officer of Health.
Manor House, Southall.
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