[Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex County Council.
- Middlesex (England). County Council. n 99020326.
- Date:
- 1937
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![1] N* N ) TO THE CHAIRMAN, ALDERMEN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF MIDDLESEX. Sir, My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present my report upon the health of Middlesex, and upon the Public Health activities of the County Council during the year 1937. The delay in the submission of this report, which is much regretted, has been caused by the greatly increased pressure of work to which my Department has been subjected during the year 1938. The County Council’s progressive policy in the development of its Public Health services has naturally added to the duties of my centra] administrative medical staff and myself, whilst, over and above what may be termed this natural increase, have been added heavy additional responsibilities in connection with the medical aspects of the Government’s scheme of Air Raid Precautions. The pressure arising from the latter cause reached its climax in the Crisis of September, 1938, and has continued without much remission up to the present time. The vital statistics for the County of Middlesex for the year 1937 reveal on the whole a very satisfactory state of affairs. For the fourth year in succession the birth-rate shows a slight rise, the maternal mortality-rate and infantile mortality-rate are sustained at satisfactorily low levels, and the death-rate from tuberculosis for 1937 is the lowest on record. Consideration of these figures, however, should not be permitted to induce any state of complacency, for, although satisfactory as judged by present standards, they are evidence that there still is much disease and disability awaiting the advance of preventive medicine. Among notable events which occurred during 1937, and to which reference is made in the body of the report, was the opening of the new County Sanatorium, Harefield, in October, by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester. May I take this opportunity of expressing my deep sense of gratitude and appreciation to the Chairmen and members of the Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees, for their unfailing support and consideration during a particularly strenuous year. I wish also to express my thanks to all members of the staff of the Public Health Department for the help they have given to me, and for their most loyal and willing service. Whilst I feel it almost invidious to single out any individual member, I would especially recognise the devoted work of my deputy, Dr. Macaulay. I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, County Medical Officer. Public Health Department, 10, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W.l. March, 1939.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29967788_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
