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4
Early in 1920 it issued to all the Medical
Officers of Health a Memorandum as to the contents
and arrangement of their Annual Reports
for 1919. I have, as far as possible, endeavoured
to shape my Report on the lines suggested, which
vary very considerably in some respects as to
details and sequence with those pertaining to
former years, and will necessitate the repetition of
many details with which you may be familiar,
though these may possibly not be required to be
reproduced subsequently.
The Ministry has lost no time in striking out
on new ground, and, desiring to show the importance
it attaches to the Annual Reports of the
Medical Officers of Health has issued a Circular
letter asking for the consideration of all Sanitary
Authorities—" to the important question of taking
special steps, now that the war is over, to inform
themselves without further delay as to the general
condition of the health of the population of their
area, under the Public Health Acts, the Maternity
and Child Welfare Act, the Midwives Acts, and
the other Statutes and Regulations through which
the prevention of disease, the diminution of sickness,
and the general physical welfare of the people
are intended to be promoted."
It further states—" Not only, however, is such
a scrutiny of the prevailing condition of things
now considerably overdue, and on that account
specially needed; it has also become doubly