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The president of the society
PUBLIC HEAL T H THE JOURNAL OF THE
SOCIETY
OF MEDICAL No. 2. Vol. XL.
OFFICERS
OF
HEALTH.
NOVEMBER, 1926.
PUBLIC H~EALTH, the Official Organ of the Society of Medical O~cers of Health, is prepared to receive a certain number of approved advertisements. Application should be made to the Executive ~ Secretary of the Society, at 1, Upper Montague Street Russell Square, London, W.C.1. Subscription price, 31s. 6d. per annum, post free in advance. Single Copies, 2s. 6d., post free.
Contents. PAGE EDITORIAL.--The P r e s i d e n t of the Society ......... T h e P a s t P r e s i d e n t ... ............ E d u c a t i o n in H e a l t h ............ R a t W e e k , 1926 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T h e R e p o r t of the M e t r o p o l i t a n A s y l u m s B o a r d S m a l l p o x in L o n d o n ... U l t r a V i o l e t L i g h t in the "Treatl~'ent o}"Tuber'culosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPECIAL A R T I C L E S - Health A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . P r e s i d e n t i a l Address delivered by E. H . SNELL, M . D . , B.Sc. (Lond.), M . O . H . , C i t y of C o v e n t r y , to the Society of M e d i c a l Officers of H e a l t h , on O c t o b e r 15th, 1926 ... Ut Ita Dieam. B e i n g C o m m e n t s , apropos and o t h e r w i s e , on S u n d r y M a t t e r s ......
Ante-Natal Work. By H H*~wY EwRs, M B:: M.S., F . R . C . S . , Hon. A s s i s t a n t O b s t e t r i c i a n , Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastleupon-Tyne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33 34 34 35 87 37 38
40 4~9
51
PAGE SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF H E A L T H m Council Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annual General Meeting ...... ...... The Yorkshire Branch ............ The Metropolitan Branch . . . . . . . ..... The Northern Branch The Midland Branch ............. The Southern Branch .... :. .:. ... T h e D e n t a l Officers' G r o u p ......... The North-Western Branch ......... REVIEWS---T h e H i s t o r y of S m a l l p o x in A u s t r a l i a , i909-$023 P u b l i c H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t - - O r g a n i s a t i o n .and Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H e a l t h C o m p e n d i u m and H e a l t h P u b l i c i t y ... A P r a c t i c a l H a n d b o o k on R a t D e s t r u c t i o n ...
56 58 59 59 60 61 61 69. 62
63 63 64 64,
Editorial. The President of the Society. H E R E appears in this issue the Address delivered by Dr. E. H. Snell on the occasion of his installation as President of the Society of Medical Officers of Health, for the Session 1926-1927. W i t h i n the Society it is the convention that without the permission expressed by the President there shall b e no discussion of such an address. Faithfully observing this rule leave is taken here to say of this address that the new President in choosing to speak on Administration chose exactly as his fellows would have had him choose from the practical side of their work, and speaking out of a wide experience in the health s e r ~
T
spoke wisdom, offered opinions and submitted views that were sound and helpful, and in offering them did not omit those little illuminating and quietly humorous touches that such as know him best look for, and so usually find accompanied by evidences of an inward enjoyment on the part of their producer. Forbidden to discuss the Address of the President none is under a ban prohibiting discussion of the President himself in the offering of congratulations on his elevation to this place of honour, and in wishing him a happy and useful year of office. The congratulations to Dr. Snell set down here are an ~ o only of those offered by the Society as a
34
PUBLIC HEALTH.
whole. No one of t-he thousands of members of the Society deserved better that the choice of those thousands should fall upon him. Absolutely unanimous, the choice was made for a number of very sound reasons-particular, professional, and personal. The particular reasons were that amongst the members there were few, if any, who had given more devoted service to or worked harder for the Society than Dr. Snell. Possibly only members of the Council know fully just the extent of the indebtedness to the new occupant of the Presidential Chair. Member of that body for a long period, in his quiet and unassuming way he has put in a vast amount of hard work, accepting appointment on any committee without a murmur, and without protest taking on any duty pleasant or unpleasant that such membership might involve. Even if there was no other reason than that. he had given of himself for such purposes it would have been sufficient to justify the honour, the highest the Society has to offer, that has been conferred. It is not, however, the only reason. Professionally, as Medical Officer of Health of the City of Coventry for a great many years, Dr. Snell has earned a place of definite prominence in the service. T h e work he has done in that office has not been purely routine, and for much of the progress that has been made, not only in'his own area, but in the general field of Public Health, there is no 0uestion that he must be given credit. There is credit for him too in this, that he has laboured in the interest of the medical profession and of his fellows in the special branch to which he belongs. Prominent in the Society of Medical Officers of Health, he has been equally prominent in the British Medical Association. In this body he has held several offices in his own local branch, and is known and appreciated in the counsels of those whose concern is with the wider field covered by the Association itself. In both places in whatever work he has done while trying to help the profession as a whole, his thought has been always for the health service. How often he has been turned to for advice and assistance because of the place he has occupied in the two societies it is impossible to say, but no appeal has ever been made in vain. Of personal reasons for the choosing of Dr. Snell there is little need to speak. He is one of the best known members of the Society; he is widely esteemed and greatly liked. Quietly genial and un-
NOVEMBER,
assuming, he will make an excellent President and add worthily to the record made by the line of distinguished men who have preceded him in the Chair. Much of what is said here was said on the occasion of Dr. Snell's installation and at the conclusion of his address. It is repeated because it is worth repeating even though the warmth that characterised it is impossible to reproduce. W i t h all the warmth the printed word can convey the congratulations that were offered and the good wishes that were uttered are repeated also.
The Past President. I T H the pleasure that is experienced in giving a welcome to a new President there is always associated pain, since there is involved in the act the taking leave of the old. On this occasion the leave-taking being with Dr. George Buchan was rightly accompanied by so many expressions of gratitude for the great services he had rendered to the Society not only during his tenure of the Presidency, but for years before that there was little room for words of regret. The pain of parting also was to a great extent mitigated by the fact, made abundantly clear at the meeting, that his vacating of the chair did not mean any lessening of the interest he has taken or in the amount of work he has done on behalf of the Society and its members. Of the value of the service Dr. Buchan has given there is neither room nor need to speak, and it will be a great relief to all to know that though he mav have ceased to preside over us he will still contrive to work for us and help us. In congratulating him on the admirable manner in which he has carried out his duties as President, in praising him for the dignity he showed in carrying out tl~ose duties and in offering him our thanks we cannot and need not add conventional wishes that he may be long spared in health to enjoy his retirement happily. Instead we hope he may continue to enjoy health and strength in order to be able to help us; a n d it may safely be taken that while he has health and strength he will use it to help us and to forward the interests of the service of which he is so distinguished a member.
W
%
-~-
*
*
Education in Health. H O U G H the suggestion made by Sir T Thomas Horder in his address on " The A i m s and Methods of Health Education " has
SOCIETY
OF MEDICAL No. 2. Vol. XL.
OFFICERS
OF
HEALTH.
NOVEMBER, 1926.
PUBLIC H~EALTH, the Official Organ of the Society of Medical O~cers of Health, is prepared to receive a certain number of approved advertisements. Application should be made to the Executive ~ Secretary of the Society, at 1, Upper Montague Street Russell Square, London, W.C.1. Subscription price, 31s. 6d. per annum, post free in advance. Single Copies, 2s. 6d., post free.
Contents. PAGE EDITORIAL.--The P r e s i d e n t of the Society ......... T h e P a s t P r e s i d e n t ... ............ E d u c a t i o n in H e a l t h ............ R a t W e e k , 1926 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T h e R e p o r t of the M e t r o p o l i t a n A s y l u m s B o a r d S m a l l p o x in L o n d o n ... U l t r a V i o l e t L i g h t in the "Treatl~'ent o}"Tuber'culosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPECIAL A R T I C L E S - Health A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . P r e s i d e n t i a l Address delivered by E. H . SNELL, M . D . , B.Sc. (Lond.), M . O . H . , C i t y of C o v e n t r y , to the Society of M e d i c a l Officers of H e a l t h , on O c t o b e r 15th, 1926 ... Ut Ita Dieam. B e i n g C o m m e n t s , apropos and o t h e r w i s e , on S u n d r y M a t t e r s ......
Ante-Natal Work. By H H*~wY EwRs, M B:: M.S., F . R . C . S . , Hon. A s s i s t a n t O b s t e t r i c i a n , Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastleupon-Tyne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33 34 34 35 87 37 38
40 4~9
51
PAGE SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF H E A L T H m Council Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annual General Meeting ...... ...... The Yorkshire Branch ............ The Metropolitan Branch . . . . . . . ..... The Northern Branch The Midland Branch ............. The Southern Branch .... :. .:. ... T h e D e n t a l Officers' G r o u p ......... The North-Western Branch ......... REVIEWS---T h e H i s t o r y of S m a l l p o x in A u s t r a l i a , i909-$023 P u b l i c H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t - - O r g a n i s a t i o n .and Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H e a l t h C o m p e n d i u m and H e a l t h P u b l i c i t y ... A P r a c t i c a l H a n d b o o k on R a t D e s t r u c t i o n ...
56 58 59 59 60 61 61 69. 62
63 63 64 64,
Editorial. The President of the Society. H E R E appears in this issue the Address delivered by Dr. E. H. Snell on the occasion of his installation as President of the Society of Medical Officers of Health, for the Session 1926-1927. W i t h i n the Society it is the convention that without the permission expressed by the President there shall b e no discussion of such an address. Faithfully observing this rule leave is taken here to say of this address that the new President in choosing to speak on Administration chose exactly as his fellows would have had him choose from the practical side of their work, and speaking out of a wide experience in the health s e r ~
T
spoke wisdom, offered opinions and submitted views that were sound and helpful, and in offering them did not omit those little illuminating and quietly humorous touches that such as know him best look for, and so usually find accompanied by evidences of an inward enjoyment on the part of their producer. Forbidden to discuss the Address of the President none is under a ban prohibiting discussion of the President himself in the offering of congratulations on his elevation to this place of honour, and in wishing him a happy and useful year of office. The congratulations to Dr. Snell set down here are an ~ o only of those offered by the Society as a
34
PUBLIC HEALTH.
whole. No one of t-he thousands of members of the Society deserved better that the choice of those thousands should fall upon him. Absolutely unanimous, the choice was made for a number of very sound reasons-particular, professional, and personal. The particular reasons were that amongst the members there were few, if any, who had given more devoted service to or worked harder for the Society than Dr. Snell. Possibly only members of the Council know fully just the extent of the indebtedness to the new occupant of the Presidential Chair. Member of that body for a long period, in his quiet and unassuming way he has put in a vast amount of hard work, accepting appointment on any committee without a murmur, and without protest taking on any duty pleasant or unpleasant that such membership might involve. Even if there was no other reason than that. he had given of himself for such purposes it would have been sufficient to justify the honour, the highest the Society has to offer, that has been conferred. It is not, however, the only reason. Professionally, as Medical Officer of Health of the City of Coventry for a great many years, Dr. Snell has earned a place of definite prominence in the service. T h e work he has done in that office has not been purely routine, and for much of the progress that has been made, not only in'his own area, but in the general field of Public Health, there is no 0uestion that he must be given credit. There is credit for him too in this, that he has laboured in the interest of the medical profession and of his fellows in the special branch to which he belongs. Prominent in the Society of Medical Officers of Health, he has been equally prominent in the British Medical Association. In this body he has held several offices in his own local branch, and is known and appreciated in the counsels of those whose concern is with the wider field covered by the Association itself. In both places in whatever work he has done while trying to help the profession as a whole, his thought has been always for the health service. How often he has been turned to for advice and assistance because of the place he has occupied in the two societies it is impossible to say, but no appeal has ever been made in vain. Of personal reasons for the choosing of Dr. Snell there is little need to speak. He is one of the best known members of the Society; he is widely esteemed and greatly liked. Quietly genial and un-
NOVEMBER,
assuming, he will make an excellent President and add worthily to the record made by the line of distinguished men who have preceded him in the Chair. Much of what is said here was said on the occasion of Dr. Snell's installation and at the conclusion of his address. It is repeated because it is worth repeating even though the warmth that characterised it is impossible to reproduce. W i t h all the warmth the printed word can convey the congratulations that were offered and the good wishes that were uttered are repeated also.
The Past President. I T H the pleasure that is experienced in giving a welcome to a new President there is always associated pain, since there is involved in the act the taking leave of the old. On this occasion the leave-taking being with Dr. George Buchan was rightly accompanied by so many expressions of gratitude for the great services he had rendered to the Society not only during his tenure of the Presidency, but for years before that there was little room for words of regret. The pain of parting also was to a great extent mitigated by the fact, made abundantly clear at the meeting, that his vacating of the chair did not mean any lessening of the interest he has taken or in the amount of work he has done on behalf of the Society and its members. Of the value of the service Dr. Buchan has given there is neither room nor need to speak, and it will be a great relief to all to know that though he mav have ceased to preside over us he will still contrive to work for us and help us. In congratulating him on the admirable manner in which he has carried out his duties as President, in praising him for the dignity he showed in carrying out tl~ose duties and in offering him our thanks we cannot and need not add conventional wishes that he may be long spared in health to enjoy his retirement happily. Instead we hope he may continue to enjoy health and strength in order to be able to help us; a n d it may safely be taken that while he has health and strength he will use it to help us and to forward the interests of the service of which he is so distinguished a member.
W
%
-~-
*
*
Education in Health. H O U G H the suggestion made by Sir T Thomas Horder in his address on " The A i m s and Methods of Health Education " has