View report page

Wood Green is being widely publicised outside this country This
may appear in many ways a trivial matter but it still gives me
great pleasure to think that so many articles which carry my name
and the designation of the three districts for which I act as
Medical Officer of Health, are being so widely circulated,
Although the vital significance of the connection between
smoking and health not only lung cancer but also bronchitis
coronary thrombosis and such diseases as gastric ulcers, has only
exploded into the public consciousness within thepast few months,
this problem has been before us for many years, certainly since
the issue of the Registrar General s statistical report which
proved conclusively that such a connection did exist. A full
report on this subject more properly belongs to the Annual Report
for 1962. but I make no apology for mentioning such an extremely
important matter. Although actual deaths fro» lung cancer have
very substantially and tragically increased in this country since
1940 the local picture is fortunately not so striking as the
following tables will show -

Prom these tables it will be seen that, relatively speaking,
deaths arising from cancer and bronchitis have not increased in
Wood Green to any substantial extent. This should in no way
discourage us from continuing our efforts to discourage smoking,
especially among children and young people. As I have said,
however, the measures which we are taking and have already taken
to achieve this end belong to the Annual Report for 1962.
6