The Health of the Nation Once again the annual report
of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, Sir George Newman, gives an illuminating survey and analysis of the health condition of the nation. It is a record of continuous "progress, attributed to better nutrition and improved habits of living. Attention is especially drawn to the effects of the lean years of economic depression and unemployment. Sir George comes to the remarkable conclusion that there is no general increase of mortality among the unemployed or their dependents, or even in the depressed areas as a whole. Malnutrition is neither widespread nor increasing. This is not to say that unemployment has not done damage to health. There are evidences in some districts of neurasthenia and general flabbiness due to prolonged idleness and worry. The maintenance of a comparatively high standard of 'health during four exceptionally trying years is not to be attri- buted to any single cause ; but amongst the causes we probably ought to include not only unemployment pay, the feeding of children and better sanitary conditions, but a wider dissemination of a knowledge of the laws of health.
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