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the circumstances in which persons carrying meat are required to wear
overalls and head covering;
the cleanliness of persons engaged in the handling of food and of their
clothing, and the action to be taken where they suffer from, or are
carriers of, certain infections.
The Clean Air Act, 1956, was enacted during the year and, except for certain
sections, came into operation on the 31st December, 1956.
The Act is one of considerable social importance, more especially in Poplar
where there are many dwellings adjacent to areas of the Borough zoned for in-
dustrial purposes. It is well known that many of the industries carried on in
the area are smoke producers.
Last year mention was made that it had been proved without doubt that smoking
habits are in part responsible for the increase in the number of cases of cancer
of the lung. Further work has confirmed this relationship and it is regretted
that figures for deaths from cancer of the lung continue to rise. It is absolutely
essential that young people should be prevented from acquiring the habit or dissuaded
from smoking as there is a delay of up to twenty years before the effects
of this habit manifest themselves. From a purely medical point of view there
would appear to be every justification for discontinuing the importation and sale
of tobacco in its present form.
I desire to express my thanks to Dr. R. Duncan Dewar under whose control the
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