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These figures show that since 1954 lung cancer deaths in Great
Britain have risen steadily, maintaining an annual average increaae
of over 1,000. In the past nine years 199,788 deaths have occurred
from this disease - many more than those who die from accidental
deaths on the roads or in the home.
In March 1962, the Royal College of Physicians published a
Report on "Smoking and Health". This Report assessed the evidence
about the relationship of smoking and health and concludes that cigarette
smoking is a cause of lung cancer and bronchitis, and probably contributes
to the development of coronary heart disease and various other less
common diseases. One of the principal recommendations contained in the
Report was that there should be more education of the public, especially
school children, concerning the hazards of smoking. In this connection,
the Minister of Health in Circular No. 6/62, asked all Local Health
Authorities to take the necessary steps to achieve a general discouragement
of smoking by using all their channels of health education to make the
conclusions of the Report widely known, and to bring home to the public
the dangers to health of smoking, particularly cigarettes. The Minister
expressed the hope that all authorities would engage in this work immediately.
The Borough Council at its meeting in October last, approved a
recommendation from the Public Health and Baths Committee authorising the
Medical Officer of Health to conduct a local "Smoking and Health" Campaign
directed to the public at large, and to be synchronised if possible with
similar campaigns held by the London County Council and the Ministry of
Health.