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8
to be associated with high Tuberculosis rates. Cases and contacts
could, as at present, continue to be dealt with by routine procedure
at Chest Clinics and by the general practitioners ; thus, the resources
of this pioneer service would be concentrated where most required
and not as at present sometimes overwhelmed and diluted in a flood
of normality.
Deaths from Cancer continue to rise and it is lung and bronchus
carcinomata that show the greatest increase. Possible relationships
between smoking, atmospheric pollutants and lung cancer incidence
are being studied throughout the world and most experts are agreed
that some sort of correlation has been established between them.
Lung irritants in the form of smoking, pungent gases in the atmos—
phere or fumes from internal combustion engines may provoke
cancer action directly or act as catalysts in an already established
pre-cancerous condition of the tissue cells.
In relation to Greenwich I will make only one observation
about our own figures, which are too small for any dogmatic assertions.
Since 1945 the lung cancer rate in females has increased
absolutely and also relatively to male incidence. The fact that
smoking is now much more prevalent among women than before
the war may not be without statistical significance. The figures are
being assessed year by year and may yield useful results in the future.
The Beaver Report on Atmospheric Pollution has now been
published and we await its translation into some workable legal
code. The Health Department have caused grit-measuring trays to
be placed at strategic points in the Borough and, in collaboration
with the Fuel Research Station, we are now measuring atmospheric
smoke and sulphur dioxide concentrations at the Town Hall and at
Charlton House. This information will be correlated with similar
stations situated throughout London and should give an authentic
and accurate picture of atmospheric pollution over a wide area of
the Metropolis.
During the year the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
confirmed the Little Heath Clearance Area representation. A
small area in Roan Street awaits confirmation and a large area in the
vicinity of Haddo Street is being surveyed for presentation to the
Council early in 1955.
The Old People's Welfare Committee is now well established and
in addition to the valuable " Meals on Wheels " Service run by the
British Red Cross Society the Committee extended considerably
the holiday scheme for Old People and details are included in the
body of the Report. In addition, the Council have installed a