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This inability on the part of man to adjust himself to the problem
of maintaining a stable existence is reflected both in the National
Health Service drug bill and reports from the World Health Organisation.
ganisation. One country alone is said to produce 800,000 lbs. of a
single sleeping drug, over 60,000 lbs. of an 'awakener' and some
14,000,000 lbs. of aspirin. Similarly, the introduction of tranquilisers
is only a further way of helping the population to run
away from their cares. No doubt the introduction of such a
euphemistic term to describe these drugs is more socially acceptable
than to describe the consumer as a drug addict!
Home Accidents
Home accidents still account for a number of deaths in the
borough. One case is reported of an old lady who was left alone
for only a few minutes but, during that time, she'toppled and fell in
the fire which was not protected by a fireguard, and died shortly
after admission to hospital. Another old lady tripped over a rug
and fractured her knee, subsequently dying of septicaemia.
THE CANCERS
The Statistical Review of the Registrar General reveals that,
in England and Wales, 94,354 people died from various forms of
cancer in 1956. The significance of this form of disease appears to
be steadily increasing from year to year. Some of the increase may
be due to the changing age and character of the population, because
people are living longer and cancer is, largely, a disease of old age.
Moreover, as many of the infectious diseases no longer cause death
to anything like the extent they once did, an apparent increase in
the death rate from cancer occurs.