View report page

2
It has also been necessary to mention certain matters in the Report which,
unfortunately, do not show a beneficial trend, and which may in certain cases give
cause for serious concern. One of the most outstanding examples of these matters
which give cause for anxiety is the increase over the last few years in the number of
deaths due to cancer and malignant growths of the lung. Some of this increase may
be due to improvements in the methods of investigation and detection, but there
can be little doubt that there is also a very substantial genuine increase in the country
as a whole.
In Islington lung cancer deaths have approximately doubled since 1946 and it
will be noted from the Report that deaths from this cause are now considerably more
than those due to tuberculosis of the lungs. There is evidence that lung cancer is
related to the effects on the respiratory organs over a long period of smoke and certain
chemical substances in the atmosphere. The individual himself may be responsible
through heavy tobacco smoking, but this cannot furnish the whole explanation, and
since there is a higher rate of lung cancer deaths in large built-up areas with dense
populations, it is thought that pollution of the atmosphere by domestic smoke in
particular, may also pre-dispose. Motor fumes in the streets of towns might also
contribute. The investigation of the possible causes of lung cancer and the
determination of those particular chemical compounds which pre-dispose are difficult
technical matters. However, should the increase be due, even if only in part, to some
factors within our control or possible control, then it is a matter of public health
importance that the community shall take the necessary steps through legislation
and education to reduce the risks of this menacing disease. Pollution of the atmosphere
in all its various forms must be tackled much more seriously and with greater speed
and vigour than has been the case so far.
Of a less serious nature, but having a high nuisance value from the point of view
of public health, are the recorded increases during 1951 of food poisoning and
dysentery. Dysentery in particular was exceptionally high, with approximately
1,000 notifications. A reduction in the sickness incidence due to these two causes
lies to a considerable extent within the discretion of the members of the public
themselves. Personal hygiene on the part of food handlers and the proper training
of such food handlers by those responsible, whether traders or otherwise, for the
preparation and service of meals; proper methods of food storage, especially
refrigerator storage ; the consumption of foods on the day of preparation—all
these factors will help in the prevention of food poisoning. Better standards of
personal hygiene in the home will help to control the incidence of dysentery. It is
not easy, however, to have a high personal standard of hygiene and cleanliness in
many of the old-fa6hioned houses of which Islington largely consists. These are
usually in multi-family occupation, with no bathroom, single water-closet, a tap on
the half-landing as the water supply, and no running warm water.
With reference to housing, it was not found possible during 1951 to resume any
part of the pre-war slum clearance programme. It was anticipated, however, that
a start would be made during 1952 and a provisional slum clearance programme,
not on a large scale, was received from the London County Council covering proposals
in respect of Islington over the next live years.