Evening star., 1940-12-06
Britain Health Held
Better Now Than in
World War Days
Officials Optimistic,
Although Worst Of
Winter Lies Ahead
BY the Associated Press.

by tLc ASSoSiAtco ASSS.
LONDON, Dec. 6-Britain's health
is better now than at any time
during the World War-even better
than in peacetime in some cases
despite broken sleep and long hours
in cold air raid shelters, Health Min
istry officials said today.
So far there has been no evi-
dence, it was said. to show grounds
for the British Medical Journals
dark prophecy months ago that
UNLESS measures are promptly
taken we can foreSee this
winter a state of affairs in respect
to infectious diseases which may
prove more devastating than the
blitzkrieg."
Officials were optimistic that
though the worst of the winter lies
ahead they could maintain the
record.
I'VE should be further on by
then" they said, referring to their
precautionary measures.
Only Seven Paralysis Deaths.
Health Ministry figures show that
up to October Is there were only
seven deaths in London from in
fantile paralysis-lower than the
peacetime death rate-and only six
from typhoid.
There were 1881 cases OF
diphtheria in all major towns up
to october Is, as compared with
l7785 in 1939 GA cases of typhoid
and paratyphoid, against 1,18l cases
in 1899, and 30295 cases of scarlet
fever, against 22,l91 cases in 1889.
Cerebro-spinal fever, which in
creases in wartime due to concen-
tration of population. is mot a
major problem" because of the ex-
cellent results of sulfanilimide treat
ment, the ministry declared.
Not single case of typhoid re-
sulting from bombed water mains
has been reported, it continued. due
to the vigilance of 80 public health
laboratories.
Infectious Disease Toll Cut.
There is a seasonal upturn in
measles, but infectious diseases
which had been expected to take
a heavy toll in crowded shelters
were foreStalled by better sanitary
facilities. by the creation of 125
medical shelters posts where a doc
tor and nurse are in constant at
tendance. and by placing 200 more
doctors and $50 nurses on call at
all times, the ministry asserted.
Liberal use of gargles. disin-
fectants and gauze masks has cut
the toll of infectious diseases, it was
said. and even the lowlv "cootie" is
getting rough treatment.
Diphtheria inoculations are rec
commended, but no legislation max
ing them compulsory is planned at
present, authorities said.
Mobile units sent into areas which
lack proper facilities are combating
veneral diseases The rate of in
crease in such diseases is less than
it was last year, they added.
Bomb shock cases were said to
be surprisingly few" One shelter
reported that out of 1,l00 cases re-
ceived only Is had sociological dis
orders.
Reduced Demand on Services.
Sir Alan Anderson, a director of
the Bank of England, told a meeting
of the Hospital Savings Association
recently that apparently the people
are too occupied now to be i'll.
Since the war began there has
been reduced demand on medical
services, he said Bunks which have
been recommended to keep persons
from sleeping too close to each other
in air raid shelters are being in
stalled.
Miss Ellen Wilkinson. parlia-
mentary secretary for the Ministry
of Home Security, told Commons
yesterday that up to November p
bunks for 100000 persons had been
installed in the London area and
hunks for $4,000 more had been de-
livered and would be erected soon
Even the death toll from bombs
has shown a decline. There were
5,033 reported killed in London in
September and 4,751 in October.
officials estimated that November's
figure would show a further decline
of rs per cent.
Health circles declared that, al
though the danger of disease in
shelters was overestimated, the worst