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7
Treatment
The treatment of cancer of the lung is still in its infancy, and hospital admission is usually needed.
There is no shortage of hospital beds at present notwithstanding the increasing number of cases, because
fewer beds are now needed for tuberculosis. Beds for bronchitis sufferers are now also being provided at the
sanatoria.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis creates a special problem because of its infectious nature; during the past six years, 26
per cent of the deaths occurred in elderly men and women previously unknown to the health authorities
(Table 22). This indicates that, in spite of the improvement in case-finding methods, there is still a reservoir
of infection among older people in the community, which holds special hazards for the young and unprotected.
In view of this "hard core" of tuberculous infection, B.C.G. vaccination is an important preventive
measure offered to all school leavers to raise their resistance to the disease. This is very necessary during
adolescence when the risk of infection is higher and many new stresses have to be faced. Eighty per cent of
school leavers were found to need B.C.G. and 99 per cent of these were vaccinated (Tables 20 and 21).
The proportion of younger children reacting to the tuberculin test was little changed, but over the
years there has been a marked decline in school children, particularly entrants, reflecting the general reduction
in the community. Compared with 1954, when children generally came into contact with infection before
they entered school, today most of those affected do so during their school life.
Co-operation
The need for integration of all services provided by the Chest Physician, Medical Officer of Health,
Welfare Officers, Disablement Resettlement Officer and Home Visitors is self-evident, when dealing with
diseases having such wide social implications as tuberculosis, bronchitis and lung cancer. The closest cooperation
between all services for the patients and their families has continued throughout the year.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
Water
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company supply Willesden with water.
These supplies are not subject to plumbo-solvent action and have been satisfactory both in quantity and
quality. All dwelling houses and flats have a piped supply direct from the mains and there were no complaints
of any contamination during the year. Frequent bacteriological and chemical examination of the
water is carried out by the Metropolitan Water Board and Colne Valley Water Company.
Sewage and drainage
Most of the sewage of the borough is discharged into the London County Council main sewers, but
a small amount from the Park Royal area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
The arrangements for sewage disposal are adequate and also those for sewerage with minor exceptions
due to local flooding associated with severe storms. Three schemes which were approved in 1963 were
completed during the year.
Refuse disposal
The Borough Engineer's Department deals with the provision of dustbins.
Refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at Yiewsley; house refuse is collected weekly and trade
refuse as often as required at an agreed charge
Household arrangements
The census report for the County of Middlesex, 1961, showed clearly Willesden's housing problems
as compared with the remainder of the County and London (Tables 23 and 24).
(a) Persons per acre and density of occupation
With the exception of Tottenham (37.6) Willesden has more persons per acre (36.9) than any district
in the County, but slighdy less than the average for London (42.7). The percentages of persons at more
than 1½ per room (15.2) and of households at more than 1½ persons per room (10.1) are the highest in the
County and higher than the averages for London (11.5 and 7.2 respectively).
(b) Private households by availability of certain household arrangements
(1) Cold water tap, hot water tap, fixed bath
The percentage of households either sharing or without a cold water tap (8.9), hot water tap (42.4)
and fixed bath (51.6) is more than double that of the average for the County and slightly above
that of London.
(2) Water closets
The percentage of households either sharing or without a water closet (27.1) is more than double
that of the County but slightly below that of London (30.9).
Gardens
Willesden is poorly equipped with public open spaces; 242 acres compared with an estimated need
of 1,313 acres; yet one in four families have no garden at all, and a large number have to share a garden.
Swimming baths
The Borough Engineer has kindly supplied the following information in respect of the three swimming
baths in the borough.