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3
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1961
with three cases; one case had some paralysis, one made a complete
recovery, but the third case unfortunately died. The current year saw
the introduction of immunisation by means of an oral vaccine
developed by Dr. Sabin of America.
There is little to add to what I said last year about the downward
trend of tuberculosis in contradistinction to the increase in cases of
bronchitis and lung cancer. There were 193 primary notifications of
tuberculosis against 218 in 1960 and 260 in 1959 so that the downward
trend continues. In all, we became aware of 352 cases of tuberculosis
compared with 395 in 1960; of these, 156 were transferred
from other authorities. The number of deaths from tuberculosis was
30 as against 34 in the previous year.
The figures for home accidents in 1961 do not show any very
marked differences from previous years and the arrangements
described last year by which the main responsibility for this work
devolves on health visitors and public health inspectors remain.
Closely allied to home accidents are the number of deaths from
motor vehicle accidents, namely 35 males and 15 females. Although
this may not primarily be a public health matter as such, it is one
which cannot be disregarded and it is one to which the Accident
Prevention Committee of the Council gives careful and prolonged
consideration.
A cause of death which I have not discussed in any previous
Report is that due to suicide of which, in 1961, there were 46 cases
equally divided between the sexes. The present may be an opportune
time to make some reference to this unhappy subject. Until the
passing of the Suicide Act, 1961, attempted suicide was a criminal
offence although the police interpreted the law in a compassionate
way and only brought an action where it was thought this was necessary
to help the patient (for in most cases he is a patient) to obtain treatment.
This indeed is probably the crux of the problem because most
cases of suicide are associated in one way or another with some form
of mental illness and to the extent that cases of potential suicide can
be treated, then the toll of lost lives in this tragic manner may be
reduced. It is here that the Mental Health Act, 1959, which, at the
present time, so far as community service is concerned, is administered
by the London County Council, is likely to have far reaching effects.
This Act came into operation in November, 1960, but already locally
a strong and active department has been built up which will almost
certainly need to be strengthened and extended in the not distant
future. This Department, in keeping with the general outlook of the
Mental Health Act, has already brought about many changes, particularly
in the spheres of after-care, and care in the community
generally. The care, support and treatment of cases of potential
suicide are only a comparatively small part of the Department's
responsibilities in the field of mental health generally but it is one where
material advances may be achieved and, what is important, seen to
be achieved. Cases of potential suicide present many complicated