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Cancer.—There is no notable increase in the mortality from
this disease. As cancer is essentially an ailment of older people,
its true incidence cannot be accurately estimated without a recent
age-grouping of the population. These details are not yet available
from the 1931 Census returns. Once more it is emphasised that
cancer is a curable disease if diagnosed early and treated skilfully.
Any unusual and persisting symptoms in persons over 40 years of
age should be medically investigated.
Hospital Accommodation.—Although the appropriation of
Mayday Hospital by the Public Health Committee had not taken
place when the year ended, the whole matter of hospital accommodation
has been thoroughly explored and schemes for considerable
extensions to the Mayday Hospital have been before the Council.
There is a serious dearth of hospital beds in the town, which is not
met by its proximity to the big London hospitals, as the demands
on the latter from the areas served by them are greater than they
can meet. The modern practise of living in flats or apartments
has something to do with this increased demand on hospital beds.
Also the increasing complexity and expense of modern treatment
are leading people to be nursed away from home. The proposed
extensions to Mayday Hospital will increase the total number of
beds in the hospital from 465 to 564. When it is remembered
that already, in times of widespread illness, the number of patients
in the hospital at one time has exceeded this latter number, the
present condition of overcrowding can be appreciated. The proposed
extension only meets normal requirements, in times of extraordinary
demands there still will be overcrowding. For forty years
the bed accommodation in Mayday has remained the same, with
the exception of 40 beds in two pavilions for children. In this
time the population has increased by 131,103.
Infectious Diseases.—Neither Diphtheria nor Scarlet Fever
have been prevalent, and all the notifiable infectious diseases show
a decreased incidence with the exception of Small-Pox and
Pneumonia. There was a short, sharp but circumscribed outbreak
of the former, originating in the Council's Common Lodging
House. Prompt and energetic action, however, limited its spread
to a small area of the town. The increase of Pneumonia was due
to a moderately severe incidence of Influenza during the first
quarter of the year. Influenza was the chief cause for the less
favourable vital statistics of the year.
Tuberculosis.—There is a steady decline in the incidence of
and mortality from this widespread infection. Certain age groups