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It is to be noted, however, that the proportion of males dying from
cancer of the lung, to females, is 9 to 1. The association of smoking,
especially cigarette smoking, with growths of the lung, has been clearly
defined in statements made by the Minister of Health, based on the work
of the Medical Research Council. The conclusions reached by the Medical
Research Council are worth noting:—
(1) A very great increase has occurred during the past 25 years in the
death rate from lung cancer in Great Britain and other countries.
(2) A relatively small number of the total cases can be attributed to
specific industrial hazards.
(3) A proportion of cases, the exact extent of which cannot yet be
defined, may be due to atmospheric pollution.
(4) Evidence from many investigations in different countries indicates
that a major part of the increase is associated with tobacco
smoking, particularly in the form of cigarettes. In the opinion of
the Council, the most reasonable interpretation of this evidence
is that the relationship is one of direct cause and effect.
(5) The identification of several carcinogenic substances in tobacco
smoke provides a rational basis for such a causal relationship.
In a statement in the House of Commons on the 27th July, 1957, the
Minister of Health said "the Government feel that it is right to ensure that
this latest authoritative opinion is brought effectively to public notice,
so that everyone may know the risks involved in smoking. The Government
consider that these facts should be made known to all those with
responsibility for health education. The Minister of Education included in
his recently published Handbook for Teachers on Health Education advice
about the dangers of smoking and he is circulating copies of this statement
to local education authorities and education authorities generally.
Corresponding action will be taken by the Scottish Education Department
in Scotland. The Government now propose to bring these views to the
notice of the local health authorities, who are concerned under statute in
the prevention of illness and who are responsible for health education as
means of prevention. Local health authorities will be asked to take
appropriate steps to inform the general public and in this task they will
have the assistance of the Central and Scottish Councils for Health
Education. In due course local health authorities will draw the attention
of the general public to the risks, which are now known to be associated
with smoking. In doing this, they will have to rely upon members of the
public, as responsible persons, to take such action as they feel right to
safeguard their own health."
It would be difficult, however, to conduct a crusade against smoking
on the same lines as has been done in the past against the consumption of
alcohol. The general public are not likely to be influenced by the presentation
of dry statistics, and the horror tactics of the temperance
reformer, with his lurid descriptions of ruined families, mental degeneracy,
misery, and poverty associated with inebriety cannot be drawn upon to
emphasize the dangers of smoking. The presentation of films, giving the
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