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11
would lead to economy—the first by preventing the insidious
development of undiscovered tuberculosis, and so preventing
expensive hospital care; the second as a relief to the strain on
hospital beds; an in-patient day saved would reduce the cost per
patient; it is cheaper to nurse at home than it is to nurse in
hospital.
The vital statistics show a low death rate, a reasonably high
birth rate and a low infantile mortality rate, although higher
than the previous two years. The sickness rate was high during
the early months of the year, due to Influenza of a mild type, and
was a carry over from the previous year. Under the item of
causation of deaths, it will be seen that there is an increase in the
deaths from cancer of the lung, a fact which is general throughout
most of the country and which, during the year, received
much publicity. There is no conclusive proof that this increase
is due to cigarette smoking, no more conclusive proof than that
it is attributable to smoke laden atmosphere.
The statistical return of infectious diseases during 1952 was
noteworthy in the high incidence of Measles and of Whooping
Cough, two diseases which so far we have been unable to keep
in check. It was fortunate that both diseases were comparatively
mild in nature, there being no deaths in 545 cases. As it has been
with Diphtheria, the future of these diseases will, no doubt, be
controlled by an immunisation service.
Dysentry showed an increase in notifications and was due
largely to a Sonne infection, very largely a family infection.
' Food Poisoning notifications were less than previous years
and there were no outbreaks of any note. Those cases brought
to my attention by notification were received too late to be of
value in tracing the origin of the infecting organism.
There were six sporadic cases of Infantile Paralysis.
The work of the Sanitary Inspectors is recorded in the body
of the Report. The importance of their work cannot be overstressed;
it has been the keystone of Public Health since the
Act of 1875. There is still much for them to do, especially in the
field of inspection and repair of those many houses which are
showing signs of decay from old age. Mr. Woods, the Chief
Sanitary Inspector, has worked with me in Bromley for 27 years,
and I have nothing but praise for the work he has done to maintain
the high Public Health repute that Bromley holds in the
Municipal world.