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been expected under war time conditions. Measles and
Whooping Cough, those scourges of infancy, have assumed a
different aspect almost. It is a belief widely held that these
diseases do not show the same lethal qualities among the socalled
better classes. Is it not therefore probable that the
improved diet, owing to rationing and public health propaganda,
has produced the conditions in all the child community
erstwhile found only in the more fortunate section? It is worth
noting perhaps in this connection that the value of propaganda
may not be immediately apparent, but it may still pay
dividends in the end.
I would like to place on record my thanks to the members
of the Council for their interest in the work of my department,
and to express my gratitude that their ambition also is to
secure the best health services for our district, thereby rendering
my task easier and my work enjoyable.
Last but not least, I would thank my own staff, each and
every one of them. They are the distributors of the services
provided, and the ultimate quality of the service depends
almost entirely on their personal interest and devotion. The
year 1944 provided unparallelled opportunity for the demonstration
of those qualities which it is expected to find in people
recruited for such a purpose as ours. I am sure there is no one
who is not glad now to have had the opportunity. of serving
in such a time, when never was there such need of such service,
and never such need of such qualities; such a time as we shall
never see again.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
A. WALLACE JOHNS,
Medical Officer of Health.
July, 1945.
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