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Report of the Medical Officer of Health
Public Health Department,
35, Brunswick Square,
Camberwell, S.E.5.
24th July, 1933.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the sanitary
circumstances, the sanitary administration and the vital statistics
of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell for the year 1932.
The contents of the Report are set out, as far as possible, in
the manner specified in Circular 1269, issued by the Ministry of
Health.
The financial situation of the country in 1932 necessitated a
careful scrutiny of the expenditure on Health and Infant Welfare
Services. The Council realising the value of maintaining the physical
health of the inhabitants of the Borough, and the necessity for
safeguarding the defences against disease, after satisfying themselves
that there was no wastage nor avoidable duplication, made no
drastic economies at the expense of the health services.
In recent years child mortality has been progressively reduced
and the span of human life continues to increase. The maintenance
of health standards and the prevention of disease are as essential
during the present period of economic distress as in prosperous
times. Any failure to safeguard national health and capacity will
only result in an additional monetary burden to be borne by the
community; expenditure on the prevention of disease is economy in
the truest sense of the word.
I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the Public
Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees for their
support and kind consideration, and to express my appreciation of
the manner in which the staff of the Public Health Department
have performed their duties.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
HOWELL W. BARNES,
Medical Officer of Health.
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