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roads and in the home. Most disturbing of all is the great
increase, in the last few decades, of mental ill-health as shown
by the high proportion of hospital beds taken up by the
mentally sick. The causes of this social malaise are very
complex and have their roots in the rapid changes which
our society has undergone in recent years. Prevention and
cure of disease is not enough to ensure true health in a
modern society. The promotion of health by a consciouslydirected
policy based, not only on the causes of disease,
but on the causes of health remains, as always, the greatest
challenge to statesmanship at the present time.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Chairman and Members
of the Health Committee for their support and encouragement,
and the Chief Public Health Inspector, Chief
Clerk and all members of the Health Department for their
devoted service during the year.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LANDON,
Medical Officer of Health
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