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Only one child and one adult have died from this disease in the seven
years of war.
Notifications of Pulmonary Tuberculosis have increased steadily but
this is partly due to better means of diagnosis, particularly Mass Radiography.
After an initial rise, however, the death rate from this disease
has fallen both nationally and locally, in marked contrast with what
happened in the 1914-18 period.
Not only have residents reason to be thankful for the low incidence
of the endemic diseases but for the absence of other well-recognised
diseases, such as smallpox and typhus, and this in spite of the arrival
of many contacts in the District from time to time. With the speed of
modern transport the risk of such diseases spreading beyond their former
boundaries has greatly increased.
While it is impossible to apportion fairly such credit as can be given
to the human agencies which have contributed to this satisfactory condition
of the public health in war-time, mention should be made of the
wise decisions on policy of the Ministries of Health and Food and their
skilful application, in spite of so many difficulties. The recently published
report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health On
the State of the Public Health during six years of War " gives a most
interesting and comprehensive picture of the problems faced and overcome
so successfully, of the national trends and the many ramifications
of the health services.
Against this wide background the part played by local agencies
seems trivial and unworthy of mention were it not that the efficiency of
a machine is dependent on the strength of the individual cogs.
The parts played locally by the Doctors, Nurses and Midwives have
frequently called forth well-deserved comment on their endurance and
self-sacrifice. While endorsing these most heartily and expressing the
hope that the real co-operation which existed in war-time between all
branches of the health services may continue in the future, it is hoped
that the inclusion of a final paragraph for record purposes on the contribution
of the staff of the Public Health Department will be condoned.
When war commenced this staff consisted of one Medical Officer,
assisted at the clinics, etc., by several part-time Doctors, four Sanitary
Inspectors, three Health Visitors, two Midwives and three Clerks. A
rapid survey of some of the work and responsibilities undertaken, in spite
of some depletion and many changes in personnel, additional to the
routine duties of the Department, will, it is hoped, speak for itself.
The Civil Ambulance Service was taken over from the Fire Department
from the first and doubled its service to the community; the First
Aid and Casualty Service was organised and maintained with a maximum
strength of approximately 290 whole-time paid and 550 part-time
voluntary members and a final establishment of about 80 whole-time and
100 part-time workers; large numbers of volunteers were enrolled for the
Civil Nursing Reserve; the Mortuary and Food Decontamination Services
were organised and maintained, and, in addition, considerable
Control Centre duties were undertaken; three War-time Nurseries, with
a total staff of about 40 persons, were established and administered,
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