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BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Walworth Road, S.E.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Dear Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour of presenting my Annual Report of the work
of the Public Health Department for the past year. The year 1928 was
characterised by one or two outstanding features. In its earlier part
an outbreak of Small-pox occurred, a thing unknown in the Borough
for over twenty years. Fortunately, the cases were of a mild type.
The disease originated in one of the Institutions where seven cases
occurred, and spread by direct contact to other parts of the Borough.
Cases also occurred in the Newington Institution and in Rowton House,
noticeably chiefly among the unvaccinated, or those in whom a long
period had elapsed since vaccination. Owing to prompt measures being
taken the epidemic was kept under control. Unfortunately I myself
was away on sick leave at the time and the Council acting on the
suggestion of the Ministry of Health, appointed Dr. Sims, the Assistant
Medical Officer for Maternity and Child Welfare, to take over the duties
of Deputy Medical Officer of Health in case of the absence or illness of
the Medical Officer of Health. This duty had previously been undertaken
by arrangement with the Medical Officer of Health of a neighbouring
Borough, but it was obvious that in a case of a serious epidemic a more
permanent arrangement was necessary.
Another noteworthy feature of the year was the holding of a Health
Week and Exhibition. This was a most successful venture, which it is
hoped has stimulated the interest of the inhabitants of the Borough
in Public Health matters, and that it will ultimately result in an improvement
in the general health and conditions in the Borough.