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5
after the 1914-18 war, and amongst women after the last war. The
connection between heavy smoking of cigarettes and cancer of the
lung is not, therefore, weakened because women now smoke and yet
show a low lung cancer mortality.
Infectious Diseases
Over 5,000 cases of measles were notified, but fortunately
only one death was registered as due to this infection. A combination
of a mild type of illness and effective drugs to control
complications achieved the very low death rate, but did not help
in preventing the spread of the infection.
Sonne dysentery was very troublesome but as its impact is
mainly in school children I have covered the outbreak in the
school health section of the report. All cases recorded are
following bacteriological proof and in approximately 25% this
was the only positive sign and discovered by examination of
family contacts.
Poliomyelitis was of average prevalence and on the whole
cases were mild. Towards the end of the year there were three
adult deaths in quick succession which caused some disquiet. All
the deaths from poliomyelitis were in adults, one case being
reported in a patient aged 76.
Environmental Hygiene
It is disappointing that new legislation to reduce atmospheric
pollution has not yet been passed while the powers contained
in the Clean Air Bill seem to many likely to fall short
of expectations. The latter is a question which needs the test
of experience before it can be answered, and it is hoped this
will be possible in the near future.
Housing applications on medical grounds were more numerous,
probably because the normal points system was not operating. A
commencement was made on the first of the small areas included
in the slum clearance programme and surveys of all the houses
concerned proceeded.
Personal Health Services
The importance of domiciliary nursing becomes steadily more
apparent. A scheme for a new nurses hostel and administrative
centre was approved and it is hoped building will commence very
shortly. The figures given in subsequent pages show the increase
in work performed, and some details of its nature. I share the
general belief that in suitable cases more home nursing and
domestic help will reduce pressure on hospital accommodation. It