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16
It has always been a matter of surprise to me that the "Vital
Statistics" are so remarkably good even in the worst areas. A
great deal is due, I consider, to the excellent work of the staff
of the Public Health Department, and fortunately it is no longer
necessary to produce a long mortality list as proof that wretched,
worn-out, badly planned houses are unhealthy.
The fact that during the past five years a total of 47,349 notices
(Intimation and Statutory) have been served to enforce the abatement
of nuisances under the Public Health (London) Act, and
that police court proceedings have been taken in 305 instances
points out the value of the work of the department in neutralising
to some extent the effects of the poor housing conditions. The
work arising from sanitary inspection can only be realised by
carefully considering the tables of inspections of food premises,
sampling, drain testing and other details set out in the body of the
report. Thus during 1930, for instance, no fewer than 289 premises
have been cleared of rats, 636 rooms sprayed and otherwise cleared
of vermin, 143,452 articles disinfected at the Disinfecting Station,
and 3,832 adults and children cleansed from parasitic infections,
by the staff of the Public Health Department. At the Isolation
shelter 650 persons—166 men, 160 women and 324children—were
accommodated during the year to permit of their homes being
disinfected and cleaned.
In conclusion, I have to thank the Public Health and Maternity
and Child Welfare Committees for their support and kind consideration,
and I also express my appreciation of the manner in
which my staff have performed their duties.
I am,
Yours obediently,
G. H. DART,
Medical Officer of Health.