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should be fully informed of the health hazards of cigarette smoking,
before they take up the habit. Vaccination against tuberculosis is now
recognised as a successful innovation, and it has been offered to boys and
girls between their thirteenth and fourteenth birthdays. Such topics are
included in the variety of health matters in which school children should
take an interest.
Research—the Latest.
One of the advantages of this preface is that the local public can be
made aware of recent trends of thought in medical research, in the early
stages, and without sensational press ballyhoo. In accordance with this
policy some years ago mention was made here of the association between
heavy cigarette smoking and cancer of the lung. I would like to draw
attention to another field in which much may be heard in the next few
years as the present research becomes better known. Coronary disease of
the heart is one of the greatest modern killers, as reference to the table
of causes of death on page 17 will show. It has long been known (and
1 have also referred to this before) that amongst other factors excessive
consumption of fats has something to do with the cause. Now it is being
realised that certain fats are responsible, and others not. The fats blamed
are those of animal origin, and " hardened " fats that make up much of
our factory produced margarine. The safe fats and oils are of vegetable
and marine origin, which contain much so-called " unsaturated fatty
acids"; safe, that is, until they have been "saturated," or hardened, in
the margarine factories. Some medical men are now proposing a radical
change in our eating habits taking regard of this research, if we wish to
live longer.
New Ventures.
(a) Poliomyelitis vaccination was started in the early summer of 1956.
There was not as much vaccine made available as was originally hoped,
but over 600 children were immunised, with no untoward incident.
(b) The Cerebral Palsy Unit is now successfully functioning, over
two-thirds of the children coming from surrounding areas.
(c) Stoneleigh Court, flats erected by the Borough Council for aged
persons who are in addition physically handicapped, has been opened and
is now a successful feature of our community life.
(d) Evening Dental Sessions, at first only for expectant mothers, but
now for children, have been introduced for the convenience of the public.
Voluntary Help.
Once again I cannot conclude without a word of thanks to all the
voluntary help that is available, and without which the borough would
be far less satisfactorily served. This service is of two kinds, that of
voluntary help in personal services such as given by the Ilford Federation
of Women Voluntary Welfare Workers, the Women's Voluntary Services,
and the Invalid Children's Aid Association. The other way in which help
is received is by co-ordinating voluntary committees that deal with aspects
of health matters that, for one reason or another, do not come within my
statutory supervision. I refer to the Old People's Welfare and Handicapped
Persons Welfare Committees of the Ilford Social Service Association, and
the Home Safety Committee of the W.V.S. By my membership of these
committees, theoretically voluntary, but in fact essential, I am enabled to
give the people of Ilford a more satisfying and integrated service. Incidentally,
I would like to draw attention to the urgent need for money
for the Old People's Committee's Day and Night Attendant Service, and
the Handicapped Persons Committee's Ambulance Fund. May I mention
also the successful film produced by the Home Safety Committee which
has been hired as far away as Edinburgh and sold as far away as Belgium.