View report page

6
and similar establishments. There has also been an increase in
work under the Shop Hours Act, the number of infringements
being considerably in excess of those recorded in 1929.
Cancer.— There is no noticeable increase in the mortality from
this disease. It can be repeated with profit that some of the deaths
which occur could have been prevented if the victims had realised
the importance of a thorough medical examination at occasional
intervals. In persons over 40 years of age, any unusual symtoms
should be investigated without delay. In all probability they are
not due to cancerous growth, but they may be. In the early
stages, Cancer is curable either by radium or by surgical procedure.
Infectious Diseases.— Fewer cases of both Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria are recorded, and in both the mortality rate also was
lower than in 1929. Measles, mumps, and chicken-pox were
prevalent during the first half of the year, but whooping cough
caused little trouble until December, when it shewed signs of
increasing.
In order to group the medical services of the Council as much
as possible, arrangements were made to cease admitting infectious
cases, such as Measles, Whooping Cough, Erysipelas, etc., into
the Mayday Road Hospital, and to receive them instead into the
Borough Fever Hospital. This has worked satisfactorily, and
the accommodation at the Fever Hospital has not as yet been
unduly taxed. Two wards which had been out of commission for
some time were renovated, and the sanitary and heating apparatus
overhauled and where necessary replaced. By this means 28 beds
have been added to the existing accommodation.
Tuberculosis.— The slow decline in both the incidence of, and
the deaths from, Tuberculosis of all forms, is maintained. This
decline is most noticeable in the non-pulmonary form: the gradual
improvement in the milk supply, with the wider use of pasteurised
milk, has played an undoubted part in this welcome feature. The
decline in the pulmonary form is less conspicuous. Pulmonary
Tuberculosis relies for its spread largely on human weaknesses
and insanitary environment. It is a preventable disease, and
could be reduced to insignificant proportions within two generations
if everyone realised that it was spread from person to person,
usually by coughing, sneezing, and above all, spitting; and that
the great ally of the Tubercle Bacillus was a diminished state of
bodily health and resistance brought about by insanitary environment
and wrong modes of living. Once again the advisability of