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from tuberculosis, a rate of 1,6 per 1,000 of population. (This compares with
the present rate of .07). 14 of these deaths occurred In infants under one
year of age.
It is less satisfactory to note that of the 94 newnotifications 21 patients
each came from a home in which there were already one or more cases. Infection
may not, but could have occurred within the home in these instances but it is
extremely interesting to note that none of these secondary cases were from houses
where there was Statutory overcrowding, or a grossly insanitary environment,
and it seems that some other fault must have been present, either general lowering
of disease resistance from malnutrition or other chronic disability, or else
careless hygiene.
The Housing Repairs and Rents Act which came into force at the end of August,
1954, made it possible to step up the work on Slum Clearance, a very important
part of environmental hygiene. It is perhaps not understood by all, that not
only are slum dwellings unhappy and unhealthy places to live in, they are also
a continuing cost to the community in many ways, i.e. slum dwellings require
much more attention from the Public Health Department officers than dwellings
which are not slums, while their devitalising and resistance reducing effects
on the physical and mental health of the inhabitants inevitably increase the
requirements for medical and hospital provision under the National Health Service
Act. During 1954, slum clearance and re-development were progressing actively
within the Borough, and the Survey requested by the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government for the purposeof finding out the total problem was well under
way.
Atmospheric pollution continued to be very much a nation wide problem
throughout 1954, and the observations on the amount of pollution locally continued
throughout the year, the overall figures for the whole year showing a reasonable
improvement at the Brentford station, although at the Chiswick station there was
very little difference between the figures for 1953 and 1954.
Cases of old people living in conditions of distress or neglect continued
to come to the notice of the Department during the year, and many authorities
and voluntary associations co-operated in providing measures of relief. In no
case was it necessary to use the powers provided by the National Assistance Act,
whereby such people may be removed to a suitable place for care against their
will, the charity of the voluntary societies and the goodwill and skill of the
various welfare departments made this possible.
The Meals on Wheels service wrs increased during the year by the obtaining
of the services of the Invalid Kitchens of London and a special van was provided
by that body for provision of meals within the Borough to the aged and chronic
sick; meals were supplied daily and the Borough Council agreed to pay a small
grant towards the cost of each meal in order that old people living on limited
incomes need not be deprived of this excellent service because of lack of means,
The importance of this service cannot be underestimated and the demand has been
very great.
Acknowledgements are due to the many people who have supplied information
for the purpose of this Report including the Secretary of the South West Middlesex
Hospital Management Committee, the County Medical Officer, the Area Medical
Officer, the Physicians of the Chest Clinics in Ealing and Hounslow, the County
Public Control Officer, the Divisional Officers of the British Red Cross and
St. John's Ambulance Associations, the Organiser of Invalid Kitchens of London,
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