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and attendances ranged from 20 to 4,000. Twenty factories were visited more than once and several had a
series of talks.
Co-operation with the factory management was not easy at first. Nine were written to, asking if
they would like a health talk for their employees; six replied that they did not want talks and the other three
did not reply at all. Telephoning for an appointment also produced negative results. Attempts were therefore
made to visit the factory without appointment and a scheme of health talks was explained to the personnel
manager or works manager. Immediately seven of the nine factories agreed to have health talks.
There were, however, many difficulties yet to overcome. The first important thing was to avoid
any interference with production, and so a talk in the lunch hour or tea break was suggested. When the
lunch hour was staggered, it was agreed that two talks could be given. In some factories where there
were no proper canteen facilities, talks were given in the workshop itself, usually during a tea break. In
one large factory a talk was given over the public address system. Another large factory had a special
meeting for departmental representatives, foreman, shop stewards and other key personnel, and then
arranged for a typescript to be circulated throughout the works. Some factories actually arranged the talks
during the production period, and one booked a hall for its 800 employees and the time was extended to allow
for questions to be answered. The factory medical officer, a general practitioner, attended this talk, and
generally where the firm employed a factory doctor he was approached and he invariably welcomed a talk,
and occasionally came along to hear it.
A small number of talks were given after working hours and were usually well attended, and one
or two factories arranged for the last half hour of work to be devoted to the health talk.
There is no doubt that this new approach to the problem of health education has produced very
good results indeed. Many people have for the first time had an opportunity of hearing about and asking
questions on subjects which affected them intimately. It is hoped that this is the beginning of a new method
of health education which will become well established. Already factory managements have arranged for
talks in the near future on Influenza, Coughs and Colds; Cancer and Tuberculosis.
An enlightened citizen knowing his health problems and how to overcome them can play a much
more active part in preventing accidents and the spread of' illness in the community.
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
The declining incidence and mortality of infectious diseases such as diphtheria, scarlet fever,
measles, whooping cough and typhoid fever in the past 50 years is not so much a reflection of better treatment
as of improving living standards. Better housing and better nutrition, improved ventilation, and
smaller families have helped to increase resistance and reduce the possibilities of spread of infection. Health
visitors and sanitary inspectors have played an invaluable role in health education and in improving hygiene.

Diphtheria
One case was notified, but was not confirmed; the diagnosis was tonsilitis. This is the first year in
which no case of diphtheria has occurred in the borough.
Measles
2,040 cases were notified in 1955 (2,026 confirmed). There were no deaths during the year.
Whooping Cough
177 cases were notified (171 confirmed).
The incidence of whooping cough was the lowest of the last fifteen years, but the reduction cannot
be attributed to whooping cough vaccination (see report for 1953).