HEALTHIER NATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 5

HEALTHIER NATION

BRITAIN IN WARTIME ILLNESS DECLINE LONDON, Nov. 25. The war is turning Britain into an A 1 fitness nation. More than 4,000,000 men and women are mobilised in the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Services. From the city streets nearly 1,500,000 women and children have gone to the country. In the six weeks ended on October 15 —the first six weeks of war—there were 3125 fewer cases of scarlet fever than for the same six weeks in 1938. For the same period, diphtheria cases were 2007 fewer.

Scarlet fever deaths were fewer by four, diphtheria deaths by 26, measles deaths by six, and influenza deaths dropped by 10. These official figures cover London and 122 of the largest cities. Doctors Hit

A Ministry of Health official stated: “Already at the start of the war the country is healthier than at any time in its history.” A North London doctor said: “My practice has fallen from £l4 a week to £3 a week. This is partly due to evacuation and partly because people cannot be bothered to let trivial illnesses worry them.” In Brighton, where there are an extra 20,000 evacuated women and children, there is no more illness this year than for the same period last year. One medical officer said: “Many people are giving splendid service in A.R.P. who in normal times might be having imaginary illnesses in nursing homes.’’

Even the black-out is helping—because children go to bed earlier. And this is what the War Office said: “Men who join up are increasing their weight from 71b to 101 b in six weeks on the average.”