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9
INTRODUCTION
to the
ANNUAL REPORT of the MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
Health Department,
Town Hall,
Tottenham.
April, 1926.
To the Chairman and other Members of
the Tottenham Urban District Council.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the pleasure to submit this, my thirteenth Report upon the
Health and Sanitary Conditions of the District. It is for the year 1925,
and is of a comprehensive nature such as is required by the Ministry of
Health at five-yearly intervals.
Generally, the health conditions of the people—in so far as they
can be ascertained from the Death-Rate level—may be regarded as
favourable.
It is not to be assumed from the low Death-Rate that the amenities
of the District are all that could be desired; the reverse is the fact. There
has been a swinging back of the pendulum.
Until about 1907, the functions of the Health Authority consisted
mainly in supervising and regulating the Sanitary and other environmental
conditions of the people, at home and at work.
Since the establishment of the School Medical and, subsequently,
of the Maternity and Child Welfare Services the care of the Health
Authority has been largely—indeed, principally—for the individual.
It is true the Sanitary Services have not been neglected, but their
operations have been seriously impeded by economic conditions.
Sufficient houses have not been built to replace those that have fallen
into decay, to house the increasing population and to afford a surplus
of houses that will allow of some flotation of population. The result is
that many families are living two or more to a house—and, occasionally,
a family in a single room—notwithstanding the fact that they are both
able and willing to pay rent for more commodious dwellings.