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was not entirely the case. We know from our records that in 1952
there were 29 deaths from bronchitis and 48 deaths from heart disease
in the three-week period following the fog. During 1962 over the
ponding three-week period there were 17 deaths from bronchitis and 23
deaths from heart disease. In 1962 the 17 deaths from bronchitis were
still considerably higher than those in the three-week period before the
fog, when there were 4 deaths from this cause. These figures must be
interpreted with caution but they suggest that although the 1962 fog
again caused some increase in mortality, it was considerably less than
in 1952. This is in line with the experience of local general practitioners
who noted a moderate increase in cases of bronchitis and upper
tory infections. It is tempting to attribute the diminished mortality of
1962 as compared with 1952 to the progress in making smoke control
areas. It is probably justifiable to attribute some benefit to this factor,
although caution is necessary because Battersea is only a comparatively
small part of the London conurbation and a good deal of the smoke
experienced in Battersea comes from outside the area, particularly from
areas to the south-west. What was probably of equal importance as a
cause of the reduced mortality, was the fact that the dangers of smog
are now more widely known and in 1962 considerable publicity was
given, particularly on the radio and television, warning elderly people
and those suffering from chest troubles to stay indoors. There is little
doubt that this advice was followed. On the whole one can be justifiably
hopeful that when the whole of London is one vast smoke control area
although we shall still have fogs because we cannot yet control atmospheric
conditions, smogs as we have experienced them will be unknown
with material benefits to the health of the community.
During the year Mr. J. E. Woodhead, who had been the Council's
Public Analyst for ten years, resigned his appointment and Mr. Dennis
Forbes was appointed in his place. I should like to express the Public
Health Department's thanks and appreciation to Mr. Woodhead for the
help and co-operation in all matters relating to food and drugs administration
which we enjoyed during his ten years of office as Public Analyst,
and to wish him a long and happy retirement. With the appointment
by the Council of Mr. Forbes as Public Analyst, the opportunity was taken
to review our existing practice in the sampling of foodstuffs for analysis.
It was decided that our existing practice was satisfactory but a few
comparatively minor amendments were made.
In December, Mr. F. Daniels retired from the service of the Health
Department. He joined the Council's service in 1923, and was appointed
Rodent Officer in 1944. Mr. Daniels left with the best wishes of everybody
for a long and happy retirement.
I should like again to thank the many people who have assisted
in the work of the Health Department during 1962, particularly Counciller
Miss E. A. Coles, J.P., Chairman of the Public Health Committee.
The staff of the Health Department have, as usual, been assiduous in their
duties, and I would like to thank them for their work during the year,
and also the Chief Officers and staff of other Departments for their
help and co-operation.
I have the honour to be, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Your obedient Servant,
J. TUDOR LEWIS,
May, 1963. Medical Officer of Health.