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There was no special incidence of influenza during the year, but in
the autumn there was an increase of infectious hepatitis.
Other Disease Control
The Mass Radiography Units have now commenced a special X-ray
Service for male persons of 45 years and over. The object is the early
detection of Cancer of the lung. Among males, investigations shew that
Cancer of the lung is responsible for 1 in 18 of all deaths, whereas
among females, the frequency is 1 in 103 of all deaths. About 400 men
accepted the opportunity when the service approached them in 1958
following a routine Mass X-ray and when a leaflet on Lung Cancer
was sent to firms in the area. About 200/300 attend every six months
when the Unit visits the Civil Defence Car Park.
The Unit visits twice with a two-week interval to allow for holiday
cancellations. The full Service consists of the completion of an Index
Card, a Questionnaire on smoking habits, etc., a master record of all
X-rays, and comparison of films. The full Service is restricted to men
in the prescribed age group, but any person over 15 years can be
X-rayed during these visits.
This Service has to be limited because the Units visit every two to
three years for general surveys and their service to medical practitioners
must still be maintained. The special service is being offered to approximately
30,000 men by three Units in South-East London, and three
Units in South-West London. Clearly a hope for disease prevention in
the future by early detection, is that similar facilities might be offered
for electrocardiography, electroencephalography and selected laboratory
investigations.
Environmental Health and Social Services
The establishment of smoke control has been referred to early in
this introductory letter, and it remains only to emphasize that the
operative word is "control" and the objective is to diminish the
pollution of the atmosphere.
Pollution of the atmosphere by radiostrontium and radiocassium
and of streams and drainage systems by radioactive products is to be
controlled by special inspectors of the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government and by the A.E.R.E. Reports of these very specialised
investigations are forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health. Establishments
whose work involves a possible radioactive risk are required
'o communicate directly with the Ministry.
A summary of eleven instances of unsound food in which the
Public Health Committee authorised legal proceedings, shews that
contaminated food articles continue to be milk, bread, rolls and pies.
About 28 less samples of food and drugs were submitted to the Public
Analyst.
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