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This is prepared from horse blood and often produces quite severe
reactions, so that much unnecessary suffering is avoided if children
are actively immunised with Tetanus Toxoid, which does not produce
adverse reactions and makes the use of serum unnecessary.
More time was devoted to Health Education, a subject increasingly
recognised as of growing importance in preventive medicine
and the promotion of positive health. Circular 3/62 of the Ministry
of Education (and 6/62 of the Ministry of Health) on Smoking and
Health issued on March 12th, 1962, drew attention to the need for
more health education in a 'fresh and positive effort to discourage
smoking amongst children and to prevent the formation of the
smoking habit' . With the approval of the Walthamstow Committee
for Education we have made, and are continuing to make, efforts
to publicise the dangers of smoking especially among schoolchildren,
but some limitation is imposed by the fact that the staff of the
Department are already fully extended on existing work. We are
grateful for the help, most willingly given, by the County Health
Education Organiser, but with thirteen health areas to cover
besides Central Office work, the time he has been able to devote
to Walthamstow is less than we should have wished. Health Education
has now attained a degree of imprtance and is so time consuming
that consideration should be given to appointing staff primarily
for the purpose.
I wish to express to the Chairman and Committee for Education
my thanks for their continued encouragement, to acknowledge the
help and loyal support of all members of the staff of the Department
and to thank those who have contributed to this report.
I am.
Your obedient Servant,
M. WATKINS
Divisional School Medical Officer.