THE NATION'S MEDICAL ADVISERS SIR,—It is possible that Dr. Johnson
really believes that the Medical Officer of Health follows a career in drains, for there are no depths of ignorance to which the really de- termined politician cannot sink; but even an elementary knowledge of the structure of the medical profession would have taught him that at the time Sir John Charles was MOH for Newcastle, the large local authorities were responsible through their MOHs for the ad- ministration of most of the general hospitals, and almost all the mental hospitals and men- tally defective institutions. They were respon- sible for keeping the community free from smallpox and other dangerous infectious dis- eases, They administered schemes for the conduct of child welfare clinics, for midwifery and other maternity services, and for the very successful tuberculosis service. In addition, they were closely concerned with the improve-
ment in the health of the school child through the School' Health Service.
Dr, Johnson. -calls such a career a career in drains, although it is unlikely that Sir John ever saw a drain in Newcastle. The worthy Member, of Parliament can, however, be for- given for the very common sin of ignorance; what one cannot forgive, or fail to regard with contempt, is that he, an MP, with some know- ledge of the duties and privileges of his office, should make a sneering attack on a dis- tinguished civil servant, in the confident know- ledge that the person attacked cannot reply.— Yours faithfully,
HUGH PAUL Birmingham Regional Hos phal Board
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