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1. It must be regarded as established that there is a relationship
between smoking and cancer of the lung.
2. Though there is a strong presumption that the relationship
is causal, there is evidence that the relationship is not a simple one,
since:—
(а) the evidence in support of the presence in tobacco smoke
of a carcinogenic agent causing cancer of the lung is not yet certain;
(b) the statistical evidence indicates that it is unlikely that the
increase in the incidence of cancer of the lung is due entirely to
increases in smoking;
(c) the differences in incidence between urban and rural areas,
and between different towns suggest that other factors may be
operating, e.g. atmospheric pollution, occupational risks;
3. Although no immediate dramatic fall in death rates could
be expected if smoking ceased, since the development of lung cancer
may be the result of factors operating over many years, and although
no reliable quantitative estimates can be made of the effect of
smoking on the incidence of cancer of the lung, it is desirable that
young people should be warned of the risks apparently attendant
on excessive smoking. It would appear that the risk increases with
the amount smoked, particularly of cigarettes.
Rats and Mice
Section 1 of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, reads:—
"Any person who shall fail to take such steps as may from time to time
be necessary and reasonably practicable for the destruction of rats and
mice on or in any land of which he is the occupier, or for preventing
such land from becoming infested with rats or mice shall be liable. . .
Although this is a service which the County Council could have delegated
to District Councils, it retained control until 1944 when on the representations
of the Ministry of Food it handed over its responsibilities.
The work involved was brought into line with the routine duties of
Sanitary Inspectors, the actual work of baiting being carried out by the
Rodent Operatives. Apart from dealing with complaints, work is at
intervals carried out at the larger areas of infestation, including the plots
formerly used as refuse tips, the sewers and the watercourses. While a
free service is provided for the householder, for work done on business
premises a charge is made.
1,386 complaints were received during the year, 1,177 of rats and
209 of mice. Of the 1,313 infestations found 1,115 were of rats and 198
of mice. 11 of the complaints were from Council property (8 rats and
3 mice), 1,198 from private dwellings (1,069 and 129) and 167 (94 and
73) from business premises. No large reservoirs of infestation were
found, most of the infestations being associated either with the keeping
of Poultry or with accumulations of waste matter.
In May, 499 manholes on the soil and surface water sewers were
test Waited. Infestation was found in 32. In November these manholes
were again treated, as well as 76 nearby other ones. 20 of the 108 were
found to be still infested and to be in need of further treatment.