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Public Health Department,
Elmfield House,
High Street,
Teddington.
To the MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS
OF THE BOROUGH OF TWICKENHAM.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report on the
health and sanitary condition of the Borough during the year
ended 31st December, 1941.
The report is drawn up in accordance with
directions issued by the Ministry of Health, and is compiled
as an ordinary report. I very much regret the delay which
has; occurred in the preparation. of this report; the work on
it has had to be set aside from time to time on account of
urgent and pressing duties brought about by the War.
In spite of some difficulty experienced during the
year through enemy action, the health services wore maintained
with a high degree of success. The general death rate
reported was higher than in 1939, because of the Inclusion of
deaths due to enemy action. The death rate of infants under
one year of age, per thousand live births, rose from 26.4 in
1939 to 45.8 in 1940, to 70.95 in 1941. Just under half of
these infants died within the first four weeks of life - a
proportion higher than that for 1940. Some increase was due
to enemy action, but the figures are disturbing and indicate
the need for unceasing vigilance and work on this problem.
Remarkable success was achieved in the Diphtheria
Immunization Campaign; no loss than 4,532 cases were dealt
with, a total number of attendances of 16,102. The figures
for the previous year were, cases 913, attendances 2,391.
There were no serious outbreaks of infectious disease. Prompt
action nullified a threat of an outbreak of Trichiniasis.
Heavy additional duties wore placed on the staff of my
Department during some of the months of this year, especially
during the raiding period, but in spite of this, the work in
every section continued almost up to normal level. I desire
to acknowledge with many thanks the loyalty and devotion of
the staff during this difficult period. I desire also to
acknowledge with thanks the friendly co-operation and help
which I received from my colleagues in other Departments of
the Corporation and the members of the Council.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN MADDISON.
Medical Officer of Health.