[Report 1948] / Sanitary Committee [- Medical Officer of Health], Cornwall County Council.

Cornwall (England). County Council.

Date:: 1948

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1948] / Sanitary Committee [- Medical Officer of Health], Cornwall County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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<5 by a determination on the part of all concerned to combine, with good will and tolerance, in order to see that the Services in the course of their transfer did not fail to provide all that was necessary. Much still remains to be done before the Service can pretend to be a complete one, but the early months of the Service gave promise of steady development. During the year the health of the County continued to improve. The Infant Mortality rate fell to a new low record of 34 per thousand live births. The Maternal Mortality rate at 1.27 per thousand births was, with one exception, the lowest on record, and the quinquennial average Maternal Mortality rate, which is used to avoid violent fluctuations from year to year, was the lowest ever recorded. A further step in Health Education was taken during the year by the appointment of Dr. Annie Mather to take charge of the Maternity and Child Welfare Services, and to build up an efficient system of health education in the County. Dr. Mather has co-ordinated the Health Education Services, and has given talks on many occasions, illustrated by cinematograph films. The other outstanding occurrence during the year was the receipt of the “Gardiner Report” on water supplies. Consideration of the possibilities of the De Lank source continued during the year. I repeat my acknowledgment of the help and consideration I have received from the Chairman and members of my Committee, both collect- ively and individually, and the loyal assistance I have received from my staff. I am, Your obedient Servant, R. N. CURNOW, County Medical Officer. November, 1949.