View report page

7
diphtheria and like diseases had not been controlled during
recent years, these figures would have been doubled
or trebled. The present high costs of the National Health
Service demand that prevention of disease must once again
have priority in our scheme of things. One of the factors
that make for prevention of illness and chronic incapacity
is early diagnosis. This cannot be more definitely
demonstrated than in the case of tuberculous infection
of the lungs. If diagnosis and treatment are early, cure
is almost certain, and there will be saving of hospital
costs and of much illness and distress. This is true
economy. One of the easiest and earliest methods of early
detection of tuberculosis, and of many other diseases of
the lungs, such as cancer, is that of Mass X-ray. This
service therefore should be extended so that the whole
population may be examined at least once in two years.
The last time the unit visited Orpington in 1951 the rate
of unsuspected tuberculosis of the lungs was as high as
seven per 1,000 population.
The report shows the detailed work of the department
and the efficiency with which each individual Sanitary
Inspector carries out his important and varied duties. It
shows also the comparative absence of notifiable infectious
diseases, except measles and whooping cough which
remain mild in type but wide in extent. The control of
food hygiene is proving effective and with the aid of all
food handlers we have avoided any outbreak of food poisoning.
The housing problem is on the way to solution but
there is still much to be done in the bringing of old
houses to modern standards. There are 2,700 households
without exclusive use of fixed bath.
That we live in times of social change is obvious to
any observer. The bureaucratic way of life is increasing!
so are the luxury and beautifying trades as a means of
employment of the young female. Any observer at a railway
station at the time of home arrival will note the stress
and strain apparent as part of this social change. We
know these facts. we know of the increase in the psychosomatic
diseases, or rather should I say in the practices
dealing with these diseases, but there appears to be
little we can do about it. Health and social habits are
so closely related one to the other that I believe if
Public Health policy is moulded to avoid bureaucracy and
to encourage independent family life we shall be doing
something to maintain the greatness of our country.
What are some of the successes in 1952: one was the
continued reduction of the tuberculosis death rate another