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There are certain interesting features in this small outbreak.
Firstly, it would appear from the evidence we have gathered that
some of the patients contracted the disease from the parrot, and
some of them contracted it from the patients who had contracted
it from the parrot—in other words, the disease is communicable
not only from parrots to man but from man to man.
A second line of thought this epidemic brings forward is the
possibility that many cases labelled, quite rightly, under that more
general heading "influenza" may really be, like psittacosis, derived
from the animal world.
Thus psittacosis, as we have seen it, may be likened very closely
to a case of influenzal pneumonia with cerebral complications, and
it may be that we shall find that many cases of pneumonia of the
influenzal variety are similarly due to predisposing causes, which,
as in the case of psittacosis, should be looked upon as the primary
condition.
This opens up a vast field for research, both from the purely
medical standpoint and from the public health standpoint.
(d) Cancer.—There have been 48 deaths from cancer, 25 below
the age of 65 years and 23 over the age of 65. It will be seen, therefore,
that over half the cases of cancer which have proved fatal
this year have affected people who may be looked upon as still
members of the working community and therefore still of economic
value to the country—that is, they are people with duties and
responsibilities, which, if and when they are removed, will probably,
in a town such as Barking, have to be shouldered by the State.
On October 8th, 1930, I presented you with a report on Circular
1136 issued by the Ministry of Health, and I still hope that something
will be done to meet the various suggestions I have laid
before you.