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11
into consideration when dealing with the individual, and so
moulds the service to this end, successful effort cannot be
obtained. Treatment of the individual for illness, whether mild
or grave in nature, plays only a small part in the promotion of
health. The raising of the socio-economic state of the family
is of far greater importance. This is fundamental.
So we come to the housing state of today. No less than
21% of babies born in 1947 were born into families who were
living in houses sharing the use of the kitchen, the lavatory, the
bath, and other essentials of a good home life, and yet we wonder
why so many marriages break down, and why there is an increase
in the anxiety state in families.
Apart from these basic factors, there are matters of somewhat
minor problems to report. The need to extend our
activities to all those principles that make for the prevention of
disease. The need to bring the standard of all community
feeding places, hotels, public houses, restaurants, catering
establishments, to a standard of hygiene that will eliminate the
danger of mass food poisoning, or spread of intestinal disease.
The danger lies not only in the quality of food, but in the
handling and preparation of food and the utensils used in
preparation and feeding. This hygiene is not a matter of expensive
equipment or elaborate premises, but one that requires
intelligent personal appreciation, both by the employer and
employed. There is a vast scope of work in this direction and
an ever increasing need for action owing to the increasing
practice of feeding communally. There is also the need for
greater laboratory field work, available not only for routine
investigations, but also for concentrated work in an emergency.
More than ever will there be a need for closer co-operation
between the services of the County under Part III of the Act,
and the environmental services of the Local Authority: a link
that must be both at officer and Committee level.
The valuable work of the Sanitary Inspectors as submitted
by Mr. Woods, the Chief Sanitary Inspector, in the body of the
Report under the sections on Housing and Food is worthy of
attention.
In the body of the Report, I have submitted particulars of
the residential homes established by voluntary agencies for the
care of the aged and infirm, a valuable work which is helping to
fulfil a great need of the present day.