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is causing one-eighteenth of the deaths of all males, one-ninth of males
of 45 to 64. As yet it accounts for only one per cent, of the deaths of
females.
What each person will do, of course, is something for him alone to
decide. The responsibility of an authority is to ensure that everyone is
made aware that those who have studied the matter are satisfied that
there is this relationship. Before deciding what action to take on the
suggestions contained in administrative memorandum No. 55, the Public
Health Committee sought information about what the County Council
proposed to do. In a report to the Health Committee on the 9th July
on Smoking and Cancer of the Lung, the County Medical Officer
recommended:—
"1.A further approach be made to youth leaders in the county
offering the services of appropriate staff to attend discussion
groups, etc.
"2. The Education Committee be asked to appoint representatives
to discuss with representatives of the Health Committee what
further action can be taken in schools to prevent children
smoking.
"3. Other Local Health Authorities in the London Transport area
be asked to consider the advisability of a joint approach being
made to the London Transport Executive with a view to securing
an increase in the number of non-smoking carriages in trains.
"4. The Entertainments Licensing Committee be asked to appoint
representatives to discuss with representatives of the Health
Committee the desirability of appropriate action being taken to
prohibit smoking in cinemas and theatres."
The Health Committee adopted the first two recommendations but,
while not dissenting from the principles underlining them, decided it
would not be opportune to take action on the last two.
In regard to the first recommendation, youth leaders in the county
nad been approached, and arrangements were made to distribute through
the schools a leaflet on smoking.
As the County Council was concentrating essentially on the child
and the adolescent, the Public Health Committee decided to attempt to
inform the adult members of the population. To this end they arranged
to exhibit posters and also arranged for the distribution of book marks
at each of the local branches of the Middlesex County Council libraries.
Cancer and Education of the Public. There are many varieties
malignant disease. Of these some characteristically are especially
malignant, running a rapidly progressive course. Then similar types of
cancer of the same sites show different degrees of malignancy according
0 the age of the sufferer. It is such factors as these that upset the figures
w uch in general seem to show that better results are obtained when
reatment is started early rather than later. About any particular sufferer,
it can be felt that the chances of being cured are diminished with each
day's delay in treatment being started. While this is probably the opinion
most people, yet the position is that many of those who seek medical