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6
To the Chairman and Members of the
Orpington Urban District Council.
Madam Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Whilst an annual report usually gives a pretty fair account of
some of the more important things that are happening in the field
of Public Health, no figures are forthcoming to indicate the sheer
misery which can be produced by as simple a complaint as the
common cold. Whether indeed it justifies the use of the
expression "simple complaint" is very doubtful, for when one
begins to consider the possible complications, the illness might
appear to be quite an alarming one. Fortunately, most colds are
uncomplicated, but that does not mean that they are any the less
unpleasant and it is therefore encouraging to know that some
progress is being made towards finding the means for prevention
of this scourge. It may yet be some time before the problem is
completely unravelled but it is at least encouraging to know that in
the not too distant future it may be possible to take some really
effective measures against this illness.
From colds, one's mind turns very easily to influenza and its
preventive treatment. Here we are faced with a problem in that
the type of virus causing the disease varies from time to time and
unless sufficient warning of the likelihood of an outbreak of
influenza can be obtained it is not possible to prepare and use the
appropriate vaccine. Now that waves of influenza are tracked as
they cross from one end of the world to the other, it may be
possible to produce the necessary vaccine to delay and hinder it on
its journey, but it is virtually impossible to immunise everyone in
its path. Valuable results might however be obtained by
immunising key members of the population, thus producing less
disruption in a country's essential services.
Another virus disease to which reference should be made is
anterior poliomyelitis, of which four cases were notified in 1959.
This is a disease which we hope will be mastered entirely in the
years to come and if it should be that a safe and effective oral
vaccine is produced, many of the difficulties associated with the
need for injections would disappear overnight. In the meantime,
we have to be satisfied with the injection form of preventive
treatment and even at this comparatively early stage of its career,
there seems little doubt that it is having the desired effect. This
being so, it is surely up to everyone who is eligible for vaccination
to take advantage of that right, and these remarks are directed
especially to those in the 26—40 age group who have been very
slow in coming forward for treatment. As most of the younger
members of the community become immune, so the disease will be
forced to attack the older age groups who up to now have made little