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directions, for instance, to reduce the number of children who are killed
or injured, especially through burning, in the home.
The wastage of human effort caused through accidents can be gauged
from the fact that in 1949 acute anterior poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis)
which causes so much fear in the public mind accounted for under 700
deaths in England and Wales, whereas fatal road accidents claimed nearly
5,000 victims and injured approximately 20 times as many more.
When we compare the concern caused by such diseases as poliomyelitis
it is disquieting to know that the public has yet to show a proper appreciation
of "SAFETY FIRST."
Tuberculosis
Present day conditions demand that the greatest use shall be made
of potential manpower, but much effort is lost to the national economy
through tuberculosis. We are ever reminded of the tragedy of this
disease by the long waiting lists for the too few sanatorium beds and the
calls which are being made upon the after-care services for patients being
nursed at home, e.g., sick-room equipment, domestic helps, district nurses.
The only answer is prevention.
Mass miniature radiography units have provided a medium for
ensuring early detection, but the public generally has yet to appreciate
fully the value of the work which is being done by these units.
In my opinion, there are too few units available at the present time
and parallel with this there is a large section of the public who, by their
apathy have yet failed to create a positive demand for more units. In
defence of the public it must be stated that so far as Barking is concerned
we can only expect the visit of a Unit once for a few weeks every three
years. There does seem much to support the view that a more or less
local unit would foster the habit of an annual check-up. Some large
industrial undertakings already have their own units, and based on their
experience it is estimated that one unit could be operated economically
if it were to serve an urban population of about 250,000.
Barking is fortunate in having been chosen as one of the districts
in which parents of children leaving school have been invited to allow
their children to take part in the trials being conducted by the Medical
Research Council into the potential value of B.C.G. vaccination. The
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