Warnings on Health
The advent of October is a reminder that the fifth war winter is at hand. In the fifth winter from August, 1914, occurred an outbreak of influenza which was responsible for more casualties than the battlefields. It is a tribute to the nation's diet and health services at present; and perhaps to the solicitude of the population for its own welfare, that no epidemic has run riot in this war ; but a warning note has been sounded by the Ministry of Health in its report for the year to last March, issued last week Although in vital statistics last year favourable records were actually attained, inquiries among doctors and rising claims to sickness benefit revealed an increase in short-term ailments. The Ministry emphasises, moreover, that the prodigious war effort must have imposed on the national health a severe strain, the effects of which may be expected to be long-term ones. It would be rash to prophesy that, because the people emerged fit from three successive cold winters, and one comparatively wet, they can necessarily stand up to another winter without taking additional precautions. There are signs that the output of coal may again cause anxiety. The state of housing in civic areas has been declared unsatisfactory. Certainly in all that constitutes keeping personally fit there is need for constant and conscientious vigilance.
Previous page
