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10
A great forward surge is being witnessed in the field of social
medicine. The development of the Home Help Service and the
expansion of the Domiciliary Nursing activities have contributed
not a little to the comfort of sick and ailing persons of all ages in
the home and afforded some degree of respite to harassed parents
and relatives. So also the continuance of the Day Nurseries has
made it possible in many families to solve social and domestic
problems which, without their help, would have precipitated breakdowns
and upheavals in a number of individuals and families—a
marked contribution to the achievement of positive personal and
community health and well-being.
Furthermore, a drive has been inaugurated under the auspices
of the Council towards the attainment of clean food, clean shops
and hygienic food handling in the borough. There is a resurgence
of public conscience, and residents in every station of life are
increasingly aware of the not inconsiderable illness and disability
resulting from the contamination of food, at its source, during
storage and in the preparation and distribution. A great medicosocial
effort also is gathering momentum to master one of the
' Captains of the men of Death '—Cancer—responsible for untold
misery and suffering to numerous individuals and their families.
It will be seen that the Medical Officer of Health and his staff
must play an increasingly active role in the elucidation of problems
which have baffled scientists and sociologists for centuries and,
with the reduction of infantile mortality, safe labour, the practical
elimination of smallpox and other infectious illness, we can look
forward with confidence to the conquest of this dread disease.
The care of old people also presents an ever expanding problem.
All the help which can be given by the medico-social agencies under
our control often does not suffice to procure for them a reasonable
standard of living and personal comfort and recourse must be had
to institutional care or placement in a hostel.
With the greater average expectation of life for every individual
now an established fact, increased co-operation wi 11 be sought with
the Regional Hospital Board and the Welfare Services to ensure to
all aged persons that degree of comfort and companionship which
should be every man's heritage in a civilised community.
Viewing all this effort in synoptic contemplation, it would
appear that the home is being made more fitting for the reception