View report page

should like to place on record the help which we received in this connection from
Dr. J.V. Armstrong of the Brook Hospital one of our local smallpox consultants.
It is a matter of continual surprise that public anxiety on such occasions
can be so great but that, during quiescent periods there should be so much neglect
of routine vaccination There are good reasons why parents should ensure the
primary vaccination of their children in infancy, not the least being the risk
of severe reactions and the possibility, however small, of post-vaccinal
encephalitis when primary vaccination against smallpox is carried out in
adolescence or in later life
In March, 1962, the report of the Royal College of Physicians on Snoking and
Health was published and confirmed very convincingly the association that exists
between heavy cigarette smoking and cancer of the lung Its initial impact on
the public was considerable but there is now a real danger that the report with
all its implications, will be forgotten unless vigorous action is taken by the
Government, local authorities and other responsible bodies to keep the issue alive
as one of the outstanding public health problems of the day At the time of
writing a five-day visit to the area of a mobile unit of the Central Council for
Health Education is being planned to act as a spearhead in a week's campaign
concerned, mainly, with the problem of smoking by schoolchildren
We are approaching the end of an era in local government in the Greater London
Area With the London Government Act, 1963, on the Statute Book one is becoming
increasingly pre-occupied with the future of the Health and Welfare Services in
the proposed London Borough 18
The orderly take-over of these services will need careful thought and
preparation particularly in regard to the basic administrative structure to be
adopted This should be such as to allow for the organic growth of these services
in the years to come,
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 the good work which has been
done during the year. I acknowledge also the help and co operation received from
other Departments of the Council
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LANDON
Medical Officer of Health
3