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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 current Annual Report on the health
and sanitary conditions of the Borough. The report contains the statistical
tables for the year 1952 as required by the Ministry of Health.
The health of the population of the Borough is good and the sanitary
circumstances, with few exceptions, are satisfactory. Medical officers of health
are now directing their attention more and more to the prevention and control
of illnesses which are not infectious; such as, for instance, the heaviest killing
diseases, cancer and heart disease. These and many others are claiming much
thought, investigation and research. In the field of infectious illnesses there
has been progress in the control of tuberculosis, influenza, whooping cough,
and poliomyelitis. In the body of the report I have given some account of
diseases and conditions which are of current interest.
Since my last report I have been working out a variety of statistical
techniques suitable for application to the research in the school health service
which is still in progress, and I hope to report the results of this research in
the near future.
I beg to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Chairman and members of
the Public Health Committee for their helpfulness and support, which is always
of the greatest encouragement. I desire also to acknowledge with thanks
the friendly co-operation and help which I have always received from my
colleagues in the other departments of the Corporation and the other members
of the Council.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN MADDISON,
Medical Officer of Health.
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