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6
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL OFFICER
The future of environmental health is a vital one for mankind..Rapid changes occur constantly
in our way of life and in our environment. These changes can bring potential dangers, the effects
of which may not be revealed until later. Even greater problems will arise in the future. Unfortunately
very few persons are investigating these problems and some who are, are handicapped by
having a limited scientific interestand lack knowledge and experience of preventive medicine. This
problem has recently been recognised in America, where a book has been published which lists a
number of problems in environmental health calling for urgent investigation, in the hope that
scientists from other fields will be attracted to investigate one or other of the problems. This is a
disturbing state of affairs.
In the early days of public health, the Public Health Medical Officer did much pioneer
research work in the field of preventive medicine, with outstanding benefits for all. Unfortunately,
in the intervening years, the Public Health Medical Officer has acquired many non-public health
responsibilities which have effectively prevented him playing any significant part in public health
research and development. This is most unfortunate, as he is the only person who has exhibited,
by his choice of vocation and by training, his interest in preventive medicine. He, more than most
people, should have the potential for seeing a health problem broadly in all its aspects and for
detecting possible relationships in apparently unrelated spheres. He is the obvious person from
whom to expect, and to whom to look for advances to benefit mankind and he should have a place
in every investigation of environmental problems. There should be readily available to suitable
Public Health Medical Officers facilities for, and encouragement to undertake investigation into
the problems of environmental health. Unless there is early recognition of these needs and a
re-appraisal of the duties and possibly the training of Public Health Medical Officers, mankind will
miss many benefits which would otherwise be enjoyed and will suffer misery and discomfort which
could have been avoided.
One of the spectacular developments of recent years has been the application of electronics
to a wide variety of fields with outstanding success and benefits. With two or three notable
exceptions in the diagnostic field, medicine has tended until recently to lag behind in making use
of electronics, whilst public health has so far virtually neglected the techniques of this relatively
new science. The following are two examples from among recent applications of electronics to
medicine which serve to show the dramatic benefits which can accrue - by means of small electronic
devices, adults totally deaf from birth can now hear, whilstpersons who had been incontinent
and a burden to themselves and their families for more than 20 years, have been restored to a
normal life.
Electronics offers a most useful field of investigation for Public Health Medical Officers
who have the necessary interest and scientific training with a view to applying its techniques,
where possible, to the work of the public health department, even if this can only be doneat
the price of relinquishing other non-technical activities which nowadays occupy so much of the
time of the Public Health Medical Officer. The ultimate benefits to the public could be considerable.
PROTECTION AGAINST INFLUENZA.
Epidemics of influenza (to be distinguished from the common cold) are liable to occur at
any time. These outbreaks are important to the community, as they can cause many deaths and lead
to an enormous increase in absence from work. The debilitating after-effects often cause prolonged
sick leave and sometimes there are permanent disabling after-effects. The economic effects on
the individual and the nation are also important. In recent years influenza outbreaks in some
towns have seriously interrupted public services.
Nowadays effective mixed vaccines are available which can give a high degree of protection
against influenza after a single injection and the Borough Council agreed to the suggestion that
such protection should be offered free of charge to all the Council's staff and employees. It is
gratifying to report that 348 persons took advantage of the offer. The injections were given at the
Town Hall or appropriate working place, e.g. building sites, parks, depots, etc. wherever most
convenient for the department concerned.