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The number of illegitimate births rose to 45 during the
year compared with 34 during the previous year. It may well
be felt that this is a matter for serious concern in that it
lends support to the often-made allegation that sexual promiscuity
among young people is on the increase.
For the twelth year in succession there has been no case
of diphtheria in the Borough. There is no evidence, however,
from the fatality rate of cases occurring in other parts of the
country that there has been any waning of the virulence of
this disease and, despite the good record of the Borough,
immunisation against this disease remains a matter of great
importance. One case of poliomyelitis (the first for three
years) occurred in the Borough during 1961. The availability
of the Sabin oral vaccine and the full co-operation of the
public in accepting vaccination for all priority groups could
well ensure a high degree of freedom from this disease in the
years to come.
In May and June, 1961, an outbreak of Sonne dysentery
occurred in an infants school in the Borough. An occurrence
of this kind is always a troublesome matter but, with the
whole-hearted co-operation of the teaching staff and the
Public Health Laboratory Service the outbreak was brought
under control. A brief account of the measures which were
taken is given on page 45.
During 1961 there were 46 deaths from cancer of the
lung in the Borough (50 in 1960). It has become a duty to
re-iterate the proven association between this disease and
heavy cigarette smoking and, indeed, with atmospheric pollution
in general. The recent report of the Royal College of
Physicians on Smoking and Health has brought this matter
to the forefront as one of the outstanding public health problems
of the day and some beneficial results may already be
discerned. One example of this is the agreement which has
been reached between the Independent Television Authority
and the tobacco industry to secure modifications that
will include the avoidance of those aspects of advertising
which make a special appeal to young people. The smoking
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