[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Bilston Borough.

  • Bilston (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Bilston Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the Home Safety Department of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, who, in four short talks which occupied most of the day, covered fairly completely and extremely ably, the various home accident risks. I am sure that all who attended learned a great deal from this conference. In June a stall was again taken at the Bilston Carnival Fete. Despite a windy day, the display attracted a good deal of attention and over two hundred leaflets were successfully distributed. The school poster competition was again held in the Autumn. There were one hundred entries, many of them extremely good. I should add that the exhibition of the previous year’s posters, held in January, 1955, attracted considerable attention, and, I trust, had a very good effect. During November the Wolverhampton Transport Undertaking were good enough to show fluorescent posters for us, on the trolley buses plying to and from Bilston. Road Safety Committee The Prevention of Accidents Committee continued their talks to the school children. A Town Forum was held in early May, shortly before the General Election, and attracted quite a considerable audience. A Car Rally was held in September. CONCLUSION 1955 has been, to some extent, a disappointing year. This, as I have indicated, is partly due to the influenza epidemic. The increase in notifications of dysentery and food poisoning may have been an increase in notifications only, as discussions with patients and contacts often revealed cases of diarrhoea in earlier years, of which there is no mention in our records. On the other hand, a good summer always increases the fly population considerably, and fly-borne infection may be responsible for some of the increase in diarrhoea and disease. 1 think there is little doubt that the health of the community will again improve. There are, so far, definite indications that the health record for 1956 will be considerably cleaner. 1 must thank you, Mr. Mayor, the Chairman of the Health Committee, and the members of the Council, for your advice and guidance throughout the year. I must also express my thanks to the Chief Sanitary Inspector and to the Sanitary Inspectors and clerical staff. 1 have the honour to be, Mr. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, D. A. SMYTH, Medical Ojficer of Health.