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SMOKING AND HEALTH CAMPAIGN
In March 1962, the Royal College of Physicians published a report
which assessed the evidence about the relationship of smoking and health,
and it proved beyond all reasonable doubt that smoking was a cause of
lung cancer, as well as a cause of bronchitis and possibly certain heart
and other diseases, findings which have since been confirmed by the
American report published in January, 1964.
The Minister of Health both publicly and in the House of Commons
has on several occasions expressed his agreement with the recommendations
of the Report, and he accordingly circularised all local health
authorities asking them to use all their channels of health education
to make the conclusions of the Report widely known and to take immediate
steps to discourage smoking, particularly cigarette smoking, and to
bring home to the public, especially young people, the resultant danger
to health.
In view of all the evidence, and having regard to the Minister's
appeal to all local health authorities to engage in this work immediately,
the Council at its meeting in October, 1962, authorised the Medical Officer
of Health to conduct an intensive local "Smoking and Health" Campaign
directed to the public at large.
The campaign was held during the fortnight 11th to 23rd March, 1963,
and its main feature was the distribution of 20,000 copies of a specially
prepared anti-smoking booklet the title of which was "Ladies and Gentlemen,
YOU MAY SMOKE if you so desire, BUT - in making your decision PLEASE GIVE
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THIS BOOKLET". A copy of the booklet was
distributed to every household in Chelsea and the services of a professional
distributing firm were engaged to undertake this work. In addition, all
doctors and dentists were supplied with extra copies of the booklet for
distribution through their surgeries. The staff of the Public Health
Department undertook the distribution of over 20,000 various leaflets and
400 posters throughout the Borough to doctors' and dentists' surgeries,
chemists' shops, large stores and offices, large shops, food shops, workshops,
factories, hospitals, youth clubs, boys' clubs, scout groups,
voluntary organisations and community centres. All the Council's offices
and depots to which the public had access were also supplied with a variety
of leaflets and pamphlets, and posters were displayed on sites throughout
the Borough including the public conveniences, and on the Council's disinfecting
vehicles. All food shops in the Borough were visited by the Food
Inspector during the campaign and shopkeepers co-operated by displaying
notices requesting customers not to smoke in the shop. Letters from the
Chairman of the Publio Health and Baths Committee appeared in both local
papers and the Press co-operated excellently by publishing several firstclass
articles on the subject. Two specially prepared displays were setup
in the east and west entrances of the Town Hall, and a further display was
sited in the entrance of the Public Library where the staff gave valuable
assistance by issuing 10,000 bookmarks during the period of the campaign.
The display which attracted most attention incorporated a viewing box
showing x-rays of a healthy lung and a diseased lung affected by cancer,
and I am indebted to Dr. Batten, Medical Superintendent, St. Stephen's