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Investigation into the probable cause of Leukaemia
The Department of Social Medicine, Oxford, has undertaken to
investigate all deaths in England and Wales from malignant disease
or leukaemia of children under the age of ten years, which took
place from 1953 to 1955. In this Area there were four deaths.
During the last 25 years, the leukaemia death rate in this
country has nearly trebled. There is an abrupt increase in the
risk of death from leukaemia between one and three years of age.
The Senior Medical Officer for Maternal and Child Welfare,
Dr. Helen Garrow, took part in finding out the environmental
factors surrounding each child who died of malignant disease in this
Area, and also of another set o f chil dren o f the same age and social
circumstances who were alive and well.
As great interest is already aroused on the subject of
irradiation from atomic power plants and waste material, and it is
also known that radiologists have a death rate nine times greater
than other physicians, special attention was paid in the investigation
to rays of all kinds. Luminous clocks, watches, television and
pedescopes in shoe shops therapeutic and diagnostic x rays of
all kinds were carefully noted. A preliminary report has been
given that x-rays of the baby before birth may have a harmful effect.
This finding has given all doctors caring for the expectant mother
a warning to be careful of having her x rayed, and has also made
radiologists extremely careful of the number and times of exposure
of the films.
Daily Guardian Scheme
Under the general supervision of the Superintendent Health
Visitor, Miss Townsend, this scheme is operated to assist working
mothers who are unable to obtain day nursery accommodation for their
children under five years of age. The scheme is administered
from the Area Health Office and payment of 1s. Od. per day is made
by the local health authority to approved guardians for each child
minded for the day,,
All daily guardians must fi rst be app roved by the health visitor
for every child cared for under the scheme and thereafter kept under
her observation. No daily guardian is approved to mind more than
two children and in the maj ority o f cases approval is given for one
child only and a statement of the conditions of the scheme is
given to approved daily guardians and to mothers using the scheme.
The number of guardians and children involved in the scheme increased
very slightly during the year.