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To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the
Borough of Sutton and Cheam.
Mr. Mayor, Madam, and Gentlemen,
1 have the honour to present to you the Annual
Report on the health of the Borough for the year 1941.
The year under review was a period of revival of
the normal domestic and social life of the community.
The health of the people remained good, and
nutritional standards were well maintained. The
general incidence of infectious diseases was low except
for an epidemic of measles which continued during the
first six months of the year, and a constant prevalence
of whooping cough throughout the year. There was
an increase in the number of cases of scabies, the
spread of which is facilitated under war-time conditions
by the close personal contact of people at home and
at work.
The death rate was lower. The birth rate was lower.
The maternal mortality rate was higher. The infantile
mortality rate was lower.
The sanitary circumstances of the area were
satisfactory, and the work of general sanitation,
housing and food supply was efficiently carried out
under the direction of the Chief Sanitary Inspector
(Mr. C. W. Newbery).
The water supply of the district maintained a high
standard of chemical and bacteriological purity.
Effective control by daily sampling and by protective
chlorination was. continued.
The Civil Defence Casualty Services operated efficiently
and I would express my appreciation of the
continued devotion to duty and high standard of
service of the many volunteers of the First Aid Posts,
Mobile First Aid Units and Ambulance Services.
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