View report page

5
We have been suffering somewhat lately from publicity, both in the newspapers
and wireless talks on the "Stepney Slums." In view of the fact that
our maternal mortality was among the lowest in London, I think it is most
important that attention should be called to this fact. There is no doubt that
these very good figures are due to the fact that a large number of women go
into hospital for their confinement, where they are under the best conditions
and away from home worries, e.g., overcrowding and housekeeping on small
means. A very sad case was that of a woman who after her confinement heard
two of her children quarrelling and she jumped up out of bed to stop them.
She fell back dead, the cause of death being pulmonary embolism following
childbirth.
All the services of the Public Health Department have been well maintained
during the year as my report will show.
It is with pleasure that I draw attention here to the wonderfully successful
health week and exhibition which we arranged at the Whitechapel Art Gallery
during the week 15th to 20th February. 34,000 persons visited the exhibition
during that week, and there was no doubt that the exhibition itself was a
tremendous draw, being partly trade and partly stalls representing our own
various activities. A health exhibition is useful in this way, that people come
to visit it and when there, they are encouraged to attend the various health
lectures proceeding elsewhere in the building. A health week on a big scale is
hardly necessary every year but alternatively lectures on health subjects can
be given at various halls throughout the Borough.
In March the London County Council considered the question of inquest
accommodation in London and decided that no further inquests were to be held
at our Coroner's Court, Branch Road. I am glad to say that after correspondence
with them pointing out the accessibility of the place they decided to still
use it as in previous years.
This being my last Annual Report, I wish to take this opportunity of
stating that I appreciate the honour that the Council has done me in making
me the first woman Medical Officer of Health in London. I have been very
happy in the work, and I hope I have carried out my duties to the credit of the
Council in this very important Borough a Borough which is rich in its large
commercial industries and fruit markets to mention only a few of its many
activities.
My thanks are due to the members of the Council and of the various
Committees which I attended, for their kind support and guidance, and to the
chief officials of each department, particularly to Mr. W. L. McCarty, the
Town Clerk, during my time as Medical Officer of Health, for their warm
co-operation and help. My thanks are also due to Dr. Ferguson, my deputy,
and Mr. Lellow, the Chief Clerk, who have worked with energy and
enthusiasm, and also to the whole Staff for assisting me in the work of the
department.
I remain, yours obediently,
J. M. Browne,
Medical Officer of Health.