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7
This is a triumph of preventive medicine combined with
curative medicine for there can be little doubt that these satisfactory
figures are due to improved early diagnosis by means,
of mass X-ray facilities, the examination of contracts and
new and more effective therapeutic agents. By such means
the time of treatment is severely cut, more beds are available
more quickly for urgent cases and the economic strain on both
the family of the unfortunate victim and on the State at large
is greatly reduced with corresponding advantages to everybody
concerned. But how slow we are to see the advantages of
prevention over the more dramatic success obtained by what
sometimes appears a miraculous cure.
The concentrated effort during the past few years, for
improvement in the handling of food, is showing a good return
if we are to judge by the absence of any outbreak of food
poisoning.
At the end of the year, an enquiry was made into the extent
and condition of cesspool drainage throughout the widespread
district, there being 482 premises not connected to main drainage.
Sewerage schemes are under active consideration, being held up
by the financial restrictions placed on capital expenditure.
The problem of caravan encampments is one that has
received for many years, and is now receiving, the active attention
of the Committee of the Council. Such encampments are an
anxiety to those whose work lies in Public Health and social
welfare, but being largely a " floating" population cannot be
considered as a strictly parochial matter, nor even perhaps as a
County problem only, but one for which there will eventually
have to be formulated a national policy.
The Annual Report is my opportunity for once again thanking
the Members of the Council for their support and continued
interest in the work of the Department.
I should also like to express my gratitude to all my fellow
officers for their ever willing co-operation, especially to the Chief
Sanitary Inspector, Mr. Allen and the rest of the staff of the
Public Health Department, whose devotion to duty lightens my
burden to no small extent. At the time of writing this report
Mr. Allen has unfortunately been laid low by illness but we hope
that ere long he will be restored to health.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
K. E. TAPPER,
JUNE, 1953. Medical Officer of Health.