View report page

51
of some moment. Doubts could be resolved and much useful
information could be accumulated by the introduction of some
form of registration of disability arising from this crippling complaint
thus enabling a more accurate assessment to be made of the
needs of such people.
Influenza.—There were no deaths attributed to this cause
during the year compared with 4 for 1963 and 2 for 1962.
Deaths from Violence.—These numbered 33 including 14
from Motor Vehicle Accidents, 11 from Suicide, one resulting
from homicide, and the remainder being accounted for under the
heading of "All Other Accidents."
Deaths from Motor Vehicle Accidents registered a fall of one
from that of the previous year while the figure for Suicide
decreased by 3.
Accidents in the home, deaths from which are running at a rate
of about 7,000 or more per annum, are generally forseable and
therefore preventable but legislation can play only a very small
part in the problem, namely, in ensuring the safety of all appliances
used domestically. Home safety is essentially a parental
responsibility and education of prospective parents in accident
prevention should be considered to be of major importance
Experience, which seems to play a great part in enabling parents
to anticipate and guard against potential accident conditions, is a
commodity difficult to pass on theoretically.
Road accidents, which are now the commonest cause of death
in adolescents and young adults, were responsible for 7,066
deaths and 87,323 serious injuries in England and Wales during the
year and the totals are mounting. Comparable figures for London
are 402 and 5,210, respectively.
Justifiably, much has been made of the serious nature of the
increase in deaths from cancer and heart disease but it must be
recognised that, from a national and economic standpoint, a child
who is killed in a road accident is a greater potential loss to the
community than a person over 65 years who dies from either
of the other causes.
Whether epidemiology can be usefully employed in this
field is problematical. Some people are obviously unsuited
emotionally to be in charge of a car whilst others with minor
physical disabilities should perhaps be advised to give up driving.
Undoubtedly safety on the roads depends ultimately upon an individual's
ability to recognise and assess the responsibility which he
owes to the community at large.
Contrary to general belief, suicide continues to claim a