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Borough of Malden and Coombe
ANNUAL REPORT
of
THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
1956
Public Health Department,
Municipal Offices,
New Malden.
June, 1957.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Malden and Coombe.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the year
1956 which has been prepared in accordance with Ministry of
Health Circular 19/56.
The health of the community remains good and the vital
statistics compare favourably with those of the country as a whole.
Both the death rate and notification rate of tuberculosis have
continued to diminish during the past few years and are the lowest
on record.
It is interesting to note that deaths from cancer of the lung
have been steadily increasing and that the rate for this Borough is
higher than that for England and Wales. In 1947 the Medical
Research Council planned a statistical study of smoking habits in
connection with cancer of the lung, and the resultant figures which
appeared 3 years later showed a pronounced statistical association
between smoking (heavy cigarette smoking over long periods) and
lung cancer. Evidence has since accumulated which confirms this
statistical association. In my opinion it is essential that parents,
teachers and all who have the interest of our youth at heart should
make every effort to discourage young people from developing the
habit of smoking.
In conclusion I should like to thank the Chairman and members
of the Public Health Committee for their helpful co-operation
and the staff of the department for the efficiency with which they
have carried out their duties.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your obedient servant,
J. B. MORWOOD,
Medical Officer of Health.