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Smoking and Lung Cancer
The Minister of Health made a statement in the House of Commons on 27th June, 1957,
on the subject of smoking and cancer of the lung in the light of a special report of the
Medical Research Council. The Medical Research Council had concluded that the most reasonable
interpretation of the very great increase in deaths from lung cancer in males during
the past 25 years is that a major part of it is caused by smoking tobacco, particularly
heavy cigarette smoking.
The Ministry of Health issued a circular, No.7/57, in which Local Health Authorities
were requested to bring these risks of smoking tobacco to the notice of the public.
The Health Committee considered the matter and felt that to be most effective health
education on this subject should be directed towards adolescents at school. This proposal
was agreed by the Education Committee and confirmed by the Council.
Methods of implementing the Council's decisions were discussed between the Health
and Education Departments and representatives of Head Teachers. As a result it was felt
that it should be the Head Teacher's responsibility to decide how this subject should be
pursued in each school; but the Health Department would prepare suitable material for
teachers to use in schools, on request.
The Health Department has purchased samples of peg board cut outs, flannelgraphs,
lecture notes and all available pamphlets and posters on the subject. These are used by
Health Visitors and are available for demonstration to interested persons and have been
shown to Head Teacher's representatives and the Secretary of the Managing Committee, West
Ham Hostel for Youths.
It is felt, however, that these health education methods are largely nullified by
the vast commercial advertising undertaken by tobacco manufacturers.
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