View report page

BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Public Health Department
Town Hall,
Walworth Road, S.E. 17.
To His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen and Gouncillors,
Dear Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting my report for the year ending
1929, which was not a good year from the point of Health, but during
which time considerable advances were made and several innovations
and improvements instituted in the Borough.
The amount of infectious disease was above the normal, the death
rate high, the birth rate the lowest ever recorded in the Borough and
the cold weather in the earlier part of the year told heavily on the old
people and on those suffering from pulmonary complaint?. To endeavour
to cope with the high incidence of Diphtheria in the Borough, a clinic
was established at Sutherland House under the charge of Dr. Porter Smith
to apply the "Schick" test to those wishing to undergo it, or their
children, by which test the susceptibility of the person tested is ascertained
as to their natural immunity to the disease.
The "Schick" test clearly defines those who are, and those who are
not likely to take the disease if brought in contact with infection, and by
following up the test in susceptible cases with a few painless and harmless
injections, these persons can be rendered incapable of contracting the
disease for several years.
This clinic, during the period it was opened has shown good results
and attendance is entirely voluntary.
Considerable changes have taken place in the Maternity and Child
Welfare section of Public Health work. During the year, Dr. Sims, who
had done good service for the mothers and children of the district, left