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cannot see these rays, we cannot smell them, we do
not know that they are in the vicinity. Yet we
are told that they are highly dangerous either to
ourselves or to our progeny. Is it therefore
any wonder that the general public are becoming
alarmed, are asking to know the full facts, and
are demanding adequate protection.
I have attended a number of conferences
which discussed this intriguing subject. On the
whole, these conferences have produced statements
to the effect that the Central Government has the
matter well under control, that the public need
have no fear, and that adequate steps would be taken
if the permissible limits of radio-activity were
ever passed. One has no reason to doubt these
statements, or to doubt that the government has set
up an efficient system to keep the situation under
constant review. There are, however, two aspects
of the problem about which many people still feel
certain misgivings.
The Radio-active Substances Bill,
which is at present going through Parliament, has
made provisions for the passing on of essential
information, especially regarding the disposal of
radio-active waste, to local authorities. This
is certainly a step in the right direction, but
many Medical Officers of Health would still like to
see provision made for the training of their staff,
or at least a proportion of their staff, in all
matters pertaining to the use or disposal of radioactive
substances. It may be that the Radioactive
Substances Bill will cover this point adequately,
but that is a matter which still remains
to be seen.
The second point about which many of
us feel certain misgivings is the constant use of
the term "re-assurance" xvhcn any discussion takes
place on radiation. I have little doubt that this
word is used in the best possible sense, but none the
less, when one is constantly told that the public
must be re-assured, there is still of necessity a
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