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8
depends on the interest taken by private individuals in health matters.
There is one simple way in which not only the man-in-the-street, but
also the housewife in the home, can play a vital part in preventing
illness in their family, and that is by practising in the home the same
high standards of personal hygiene that we expect from those handling
our food in shops and restaurants.
The germs responsible for food poisoning, dysentery, and many
other infections, including the virus of poliomyelitis, can all be introduced
into our food while it is being prepared, if they happen to be
present on our hands. When this contaminated food is consumed,
it is often the means of infecting other members of the family ; as it
is possible for an individual to carry many of these organisms in the
body, without being ill, the importance of absolute cleanliness of the
hands at all times, and particularly after using the toilet, becomes
obvious. In fact, it is not too much to say, that care in this simple
matter of washing the hands could prevent much serious, as well as
minor, illness. In particular, children are liable to be affected by
these infections, and it is at this age that habits of cleanliness can
best be instilled that will stand them in good stead in later life.
It has long been established that two basic essentials for a healthy
community are a safe and adequate water supply, and a satisfactory
system of sewage disposal, and these requirements are very closely
inter-linked. Our present immunity from the large epidemics of
water-borne disease prevalent up to the end of the last century, is
mainly due to the progress made in these branches of sanitary engineering.
These matters are still an active concern of the department,
and during the year, no fewer than 82 cesspools were abolished and
main drainage substituted. In addition, the department was instrumental
in securing the connection of twelve premises to the main
water supply.
Of the outstanding problems in the field of preventive medicine,
few have aroused so much discussion as the apparent relationship
between smoking and cancer of the lung. It is particularly difficult
for both smoker and non-smoker alike to suppress their prejudices
and view the problem dispassionately, and as, in addition, few have
the knowledge of statistical techniques which would enable them to
follow the arguments originally put forward, it becomes difficult to
form a clear picture of the situation.
As the facts appear to me, an association between cancer of the
lung and heavy smoking has been established, though this does not
necessarily mean that tobacco is itself a cause, and certainly not that
it is the sole cause of the disease. At the same time, the disease is
found to affect more frequently those dwelling in towns rather than
those residing in rural districts, and there are many who believe that
atmospheric pollution is a relevant factor although there are, of course,
a host of other differences between town and country life, which
might be involved. The question is really one on which every smoker