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Town Hall,
Kensington, W.8.
June 1st, 1928.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Royal Borough of Kensington.
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,—
I have the honour to submit, for your information, my Annual Report for 1927 upon the state
of the Public Health in Kensington,
The year under review was satisfactory from the public health standpoint. Although the
usual infectious diseases appeared in sporadic form, there was no epidemic of any one of these
diseases in the Borough. Indeed, the deaths from the principal zymotic diseases per 1,000 living
was the lowest recorded in the history of the Borough.
I beg to call particular attention to the tables and information in regard to tuberculosis which
appear on pages 54 to 62 of this report. The remarkable decrease in the incidence of and the
death rate from tuberculosis which has gone on since the termination of the War must give considerable
satisfaction to the members of the Council. To-day, the death rate from this disease is
approximately one-half of what it was ten years ago. Tuberculosis was so common in days gone
bv that it was known as " the White Man's Scourge "; the gradual removal from our midst of this
menace to health and life not only increases the happiness of the people, but effects a considerable
economy in the national, local and family budgets.
The most interesting steps in public health administration taken during the year were
in connection with acute rheumatism in children. On representations made by the Council, the
Minister of Health issued regulations making acute rheumatism in children under the age of
sixteen years a notifiable infectious disease as from the 1st October, 1927. In order to deal with
the cases notified under these regulations, the Council established a Rheumatism Supervisory
Centre and full details of the scheme will be found on pages 62 to 66.
It is appropriate that in presenting this report I should express my appreciation of the full
measure of support which has been accorded to me by the Mayor, the Chairmen and ViceChairmen
of the various Committees, all members of the Council, and the Chief Officers of
other Departments, and of thanking the staff of the Public Health Department for their efficient
service and loyal co-operation throughout the year.
VITAL STATISTICS.
The Royal Borough of Kensington as constituted under the London Government Act, 1899,
covers an area of 2,291 acres, and is co-extensive with the Civil Parish and Registration District
of the same name. The line of demarcation formed by Holland Park Avenue, High Street,
Notting Hill Gate, and the Bayswater Road divides the Borough into approximately equal halves
described in previous years and in this Report as North and South Kensington respectively.
Each of these areas is co-terminous with the Parliamentary division of the same name. The
Borough is further sub-divided into nine wards. North Kensington includes the wards of St.
Charles, Golborne, Norland and Pembridge, whilst South Kensington is made up of the five other
wards, namely, Holland, Earl's Court, Queen's Gate, Redcliffe and Brompton.
POPULATION.