LON 65 report of the medical officer op health for the city op london for the year 1939. STAFF. MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH. Date of Appointment. ???, Charles Francis,M.D.,Ch.B., D.P. H., D. T.M. Dec.,1937 CLERICAL STAFF. Lowe, George Principal Assistant & Vaccination Officer. Nov..1902 Gray, Charles M. 1st Class Assistant March, 1911 Ilunt, Harold F. 2nd Class Assistant May, 1924 Stout, James Erl 3rd Class Assistants July, 1930 Threadgold, Arthur W. Nov. 1923 Stevens, F.W. Nov. 1937 Jan. 1917 Tunbridge, Mrs. Unclassified ... Nov. 1935 Peters, E. J. Wilson, J. C. Jan. 1936 Clements, K.N.H. Nov. 1936 SANITARY INSPECTORS. Robinson,Ernest S. J •••••• J 0 0 * 0 0 0 J 0 0 0 0 0 0 ) Senior Inspectors. ... ... Feb. 1913 ???, George Henry Oct. 1920 McGrath, William Richard Mar. 1922 Harrington,George Edwin Dec.1925 Sillet, David Ernest April. 1926 ???, William G. C. July, 1928 Thorpe, Robert C. March, 1930 ???, G.A.(Rat Officer) ) j Junior Inspectors . . ... July, 1932 Hudson, Leslie A. April, 1934 Aldhous, H.J. April, 1935 Holloway, A.B. cox, C.R. May, 1937 Oct. 1938 Scott, A.E.R. Oct. 1938 MEAT INSPECTION STAFF. Grace, L.B.A. ???.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Officer and Chief Meat Inspector June, 1934 Mitchener, William E. Senior Inspector Dec. 1910 ???atson, William S. Senior Inspectors. Dec. 1910 Jones, John April, 1914 Slatter, Charles. May, 1908 ???urray, Samuel B. Sept. 1911 Mellish, Cyril E. Jan. 1912 Thompson, Frank E. July, 1924 Perris, G.A. Dec. 1923 Cann, S.W. Junior Inspectors. May, 1927 Peyton, H.R. Sept. 1932 Lee, W.R. July, 1930 Bernhardt, D. R. Probationary Meat Inspectors May, 1931 Seymour, K. D. July, 1935 WOMAN SANITARY INSPECTOR. Wilkinson, Miss Annie M. July, 1909 TUBERCULOSIS SISTER & HEALTH VISITOR. Backhouse, Miss S. A. June,1931 TUBERCULOSIS NURSE & ASST. HEALTH VISITOR. ScOtt, Miss J.F. April, 1938 KEEPER OF THE MORTUARY. Steggles, T. Dec. 1918 DISINFECTOR. McDonnell, R.J. April, 1903 MESSENGERS. Betts, Charles. (Head Messenger) April, 1926 Tierney, T.E. (Temporary) Dec. 1926 LABOURERS. Hastings, T. General Duties at Mortuary June, 1920 Burton,John Henry (Do. do. March, 1936 Lawrence, F.H. (Do. do. May, 1936 Ludgate,G. (General Duties at Smithfield Market Oct. 1906 Strong,S.R. Do. do. March, 1914 Morris, W.F. Do. do. March, 1925 Prevost,W.C. Do. do. Feb. 1926 ???, Ernest.y. Do. do. Jan. 1928 Lawrence,Charles J Do. do. Feb. 1928 Graham, Mrs. (Bath Attendant and Cleaner) June, 1927 To the Right Honourable, The Lord Mayor, Aldermen & Commoners of the Corporation of London. Public Health Department, Guildhall, E.C.2. October, 1940. My Lord Mayor & Gentlemen, I have the honour to present, in an abridged form, the report on the work of my Department for the year 1939. Statistical Information. Area. 661 acres (including the Temple and Tidal Water and foreshore). population. Registrar Generals estimate at middle of 1939-8720 Annual Rateable Value. £8,316,732. Annual Sum received from Penny Rate. £30,750. Births:- Total. M. F. Legitimate 39 18 21 Live Births Illegitimate 5 2 3 Birth Rate per 1,000 estimated resident copulation mid-1939 5.0 Stillbirths 3 1 2 Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births 5.4 Deaths 94 52 42 Death Rate per 1,000 estimated average population 10.9 Deaths from puerperal causes (Headings 29 and 30 of the Registrar- General's Short List):- Deaths. Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births. No.29 Puerperal sepsis Nil Nil No.30 Other puerperal causes Nil Nil Total Nil Nil Death Rate of Infants under one year of age:- All infants per 1,000 live births Nil Legitimate infants per 1,000 legitimate live births Nil Illegitimate infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births Nil Deaths from Cancer (all ages) 9 ,, Measles (all ages) Nil " Whooping Cough (all ages) Nil ,, Diarrhoea (under 2 years of age) Nil Vaccination. Of the 511 births notified to the Vaccination Officer during 1938, 186 had been successfully vaccinated by the end of 1939. 19 had died before the age for vaccination and one was insusceptible. Vaccination was postponed in 0 cases and 165 had removed into other districts. No case was pending. There were 139 cases of conscientious objection. The Public Vaccinator performed 5 revaccinations during the year and in addition to the 186 successful vaccinations referred to above four adult persons were vaccinated for the first time. maternity and child welfare. No. of City Births notified (including stillbirths) 48 Total visits by Health Visitor 1179 Under one year 341 Over one year and under 5 years 689 Ante Natal 136 Ophthalmia 1 Still Births 3 Infant Life Protection 3 Home Helps 3 Scabies 3 INFANT WELFARE CENTRE. No. of Sessions (including 12 sessions for Diphtheria Immunisation and Schick Testing) 97 Attendances Under one year 824 Over 1 year and under 5 years 657 Mothers 141 Dentures provided 0 Home helps provided 3 No. of children immunised against Diphtheria 26 INFECTIOUS DISEASE. Notifications received:- These consisted of the following Total cases notified. Cases admitted to Hospital. Total Deaths. Diphtheria 5 5 1 Scarlet Fever 8 8 Erysipilas 2 1 In addition to the foregoing 1 case of Measles was notified. PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES. Tuberculosis Dispensary. No.of Sessions held 223 No.of patients attending Residents 238 Non-Residents 622 Total 860 No. of New Patients 192 No. of Patients admitted to Sanatoria Hospices, etc. 79 Artificial Pneumothorax Refills 313 No. of Visits made to Homes 285 No. of contents kept under observation 14 Milk supplied (patients) 5 Venereal Diseases. Sessions held daily except Sunday M. F. Total. No. of Attendances — — 22,103 New patients 710 149 859 Bacteriological Examinations. The following specimens were examined during the year. Specimen Disease suspected Result Positive Negative Sputa Tuberculosis 1 4 Throat swabbings Diphtheria 1 15 Diphtheria AntiToxin. Quantity provided:- None. MEAT INSPECTION. Amount of meat delivered at Smithfield Market:- 329,452 tons. Amount of meat seized by Meat Inspectors at Smithfield Market:- 653 tons. 4 cwts. 1 qr. Amount of Meat seized by Meat Inspectors at cold stores Leadenhall Market and City Shops:- 59 tons. 2 cwts. 1 qr. 22 lbs. No. of Prosecutions instituted:- 3 No. of Demonstrations and Instruction in Meat Inspection:- 16 No. of Naval Officers receiving instruction in Meat Inspection:- 6 PUBLIC HEALTH (MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1924. Inspections:- 170 The improvement in carriage of meat noted in past reports has been maintained. PREMISES WHERE FOOD IS PREPARED AND OFFERED FOR SALE. All these premises are subject to regular inspection. Inspections have been made and without exception all criticisms have received immediate attention. ITINERANT FOOD VENDORS. Constant inspections of barrows and of itinerant food vendors have been made and the issue of cautionary letters has resulted in a marked improvement in the general condition of this class of trade. RIVERSIDE WHARVES. The food delivered at riverside Wharves has consisted of the customary varieties and has been the subject of constant inspection and 120 tons 0 cwt 3 qrs 7 lbs. have been condemned as unfit for human consumption. Of this amount it has been possible to utilize 25 tons 3 cwt 1 qrs. 14 lbs. for cattle or poultry feeding or other convenient purposes. FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS. 722 Samples have been submitted to the Public Analyst for examination. 140 of these were formal samples and 582 were informal samples. 15 samples were reported against. The percentage of adulterated samples was 2.0 Legal proceedings were necessary in 2 cases. 6 applications were received for registration as purveyors of milk All were registered. 12 samples of Condensed Milk were purchased for analysis and all were found to be up to standard. 13 licenses were issued under the Milk (Special Designations) Order. SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES. The general sanitary supervision has been maintained and in this connection 3943 inspections have been made. As a consequence of these inspections it was necessary to serve 16 Statutory Orders and 44 Intimation Notices. No legal proceedings were necessary. Tenement Houses were inspected and the only common lodging house in the City was kept under regular supervision. HOUSING. The total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects was 126 and 32 were found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation. 24 were rendered fit as a result of informal action by the inspectors and 7 statutory notices were served requesting defects to be remedied. Overcrowding in the City of London is not very prevalent, it exists in only 11 premises. On the 4th May, in pursuance of Section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936, a Closing Order was made in respect of part of Barkers Buildings, Catherine Wheel Alley. Alternative accommodation in Corporation property was offered to the tenants but owing to the contingencies of the War, the Order had not become operative at the end of the Year and negotiations were still in progress. FACTORY ACT, 1937. The total number of premises on the register is 4077. These have been under such supervision as has been possible having regard to their needs. There are four above ground bakehouses and four underground bakehouses. The provisions of the Act relating to outworkers have been carried out as heretofore. No case of infectious disease was reported in connection with outworkers' premises in the City. SHOPS ACT, 1934. 594 shops and warehouses have been inspected and where necessary re-inspected. Any defects found have been remedied without recourse to legal proceedings. In cases where satisfactory alternative sanitary accommodation was available and it was not practicable to make provision on the premises, exemption certificates were granted. PHARMACY AND POISONS ACT, 1933. 74 persons were registered under this Act 5 of whom were new registrations during 1939. FERTILIZERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT, 1926. The provisions of the above Act were carried out without recourse to legal proceedings or especial difficulty. MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT, 1908. Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928-1931. No difficulty was experienced during the year in regard to the administration of the above Act. CREMATIONS. 464 Cremations were carried out at the City of London Crematorium at Ilford. EAT REPRESSION. Although it has not been possible to devote as much attention to the problem of rat-infection as usual, this aspect of public health work has not been neglected, and wherever necessary the Rat Officer has called upon the services of his colleagues which has teen readily forthcoming. CITY MORTUARY. Bodies removed 83 post Mortem examinations 19 Inquests on bodies 59 " " fires 5 Bodies placed in preserving apparatus 4 DISINFECTION AND CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS PERSONS. Export of clothing. No. of articles disinfected 177,530 No, of certificates issued 372 General disinfection. Infectious Diseases. Articles of clothing and bedding disinfected 7,799 Police Quarters 1 Cells at Police Station 4 Premises 200 Quarters at request of G. P. 0. 122 Horse-hair and bristles(cases) 23 Bocks 172 String (cases) 13 Cleansing of persons. No. of verminous persons bathed 131 No. of articles disinfected 1 ,623 Cleansing of School Children. No. of children cleansed 795 No. of articles disinfected 2,326 Destructions . Beds etc. destroyed at request 15 Books destroyed — Pigeons-by staff 675 " contractors 16 I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, CHAS. F. WHITE. Medical Officer of Health, City of London,