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10
1926]
Fresh food is better than tinned, or re-cooked food.
Is your food cupboard ventilated and fly-proof?
The cleanliness of the food supply is a matter which the individual citizen
could do much to improve.
Many cases of ill-defined illness have an origin in food contamination,
adulteration, or neglect. If the housewife would not buy where she has reason
to believe that food is exposed to contamination by dust, flies, etc., the vendors
would, through loss of custom, have to take steps to protect their wares. The
citizens have thus the matter of the purity of their food supply largely in their
own hands.
If you find dirt at the bottom of your milk jug, write to the Medical Officer of
Health, and complain to your milkman.
The Workplace and its Surroundings.
What has been stated) as an improvement in the home itself, also applies to
the workplace, and the shop. Fully half an individual's time is not spent in
repose—indeed it might be said half the life of the worker is generally spent
amidst entirely different surroundings from what is called his home. These
surroundings — where he works — must leave their imprint upon him. The
cleanliness of the workplace and its surroundings is therefore of equal importance
with that of the home.
The Beginnings of Disease.
There is Always Danger in Delay.
Most diseases are easily cured if they are discovered early. For persistent
cough, loss of weight, shortness of breath, unusual weariness, early medical
advice should be sought. There are two municipally supported dispensaries for
the early detection of tuberculosis, and the aim of the Welfare Centres is the
education of the mother in the maintenance of good health—prevention is better
than cure.
Florence Nightingale to her Nurses.
"Think nothing too small to be attended to in this respect, cleanliness and
fresh air—there can be no fresh air without cleanliness. Cleanliness is
the only true disinfectant."
Health Week had been well advertised in the Borough, both by posters and
the distribution of leaflets which had been approved by the Committee. Owing
to the Press notices, the Medical Officer of Health received quite a number of
requests for the leaflet from other districts. A gratifying feature of the propaganda
was the considerable help received from the Local Press, particularly the Islington
Gazette. Notices also appeared in the Islington and Hollo-way Press, the Hornsey
Journal and the Westminster Gazette, which last also published three special
articles by the Medical Officer of Health on "Food Storage in the Home
"Education and Hygiene," and "Clean Shops." The work of the Welfare
Centres as regards Health and Baby Week is summarised under the report on
Maternity and Child Welfare work.