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22
and well equipped radiologists working together; but there are obvious
disadvantages of establishing such clinics elsewhere than in general hospitals.
For some years past it has been the practice in Camberwell to rely on leaflet
propaganda by the health visitors as a means to bring to the notice of the residents:
(1) The sites of the body attacked; (2) suspicious signs and symptoms to be looked for;
(3) the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of this disease; (4) the danger of
delay in obtaining medical advice.
If, however, your Committee is desirous of extending the present activities
for disseminating knowledge of this disease, I would suggest for consideration the
distribution of leaflets to factories in the Borough where women are employed;
the display of posters at the several infant welfare centres, and I would also undertake
the preparation of a series of bookmarks on various diseases, including cancer,
for distribution to borrowers, at the Public Libraries in Camberwell, subject to
the approval of the Public Libraries Committee.
Your obedient Servant,
H. W. BARNES, Medical Officer of Health.
As a result of this Report, the opinion was expressed by the
Committee that the public would not make use of a Cancer Diagnosis
Clinic to an extent to justify its establishment, but that far better
results would be obtained in the fight against cancer by some extensive
propaganda, as suggested in the report.
The Council accordingly instructed the Medical Officer of
Health to take steps with regard to propaganda in the direction
indicated in his Report.
National Rat Week, 1929.
National Rat Week was fixed by the Minister of Agriculture
and Fisheries to take place on the week commencing November
4th.
The Council felt that they should support this movement
and the Sanitary Inspectors were accordingly instructed to visit
premises likely to be rat infested and instruct the occupiers
by means of leaflets and in other ways as to the requirements
of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1910, and ask these
occupiers to co-operate with reference to the destruction of rats
and mice during Rat Week. The Borough Engineer and Surveyor
was also instructed to increase the number of baits placed
in the Council's sewers during the Week.
Damage to Private Property by Water Mains.
In June the Council had under consideration the question
of the desirability of the payment of compensation to private
individuals for damage or loss sustained by reason of burst
water mains, and the Council expressed themselves in favour of
representations being made to the Minister of Health requesting
him to promote legislation to require payment by the Metropolitan
Water Board of compensation for such damage or loss.
Chickenpox. Notification of as an Infectious Disease.
The Council at their meeting in January, 1930, received a
communication from the Ministry of Health in which it was