A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

1926 Cont - 1927
1926 cont economist and one time civil servant) stating that it was a profound error to think
that by merely attending to the illnesses of individuals a healthy population would emerge.
"Ill health will remain if the causes of ill health remain," they stated, "and the fundamental
problem here is not strictly speaking a medical one". See 1928 and 1930.
The Scottish Board of Health Committee on the Hospital Services (Scotland) did not
favour a State service. It recommended that the voluntary hospitals should provide most of
the additional beds required and should be given Treasury grants to meet half of the costs;
and that hospital development should be regionally planned.
Royal Commission on Lunacy and Mental Disorder, Cmd.2700, (chairman HP (later
Lord) Macmillan, 1873-1952, judge) rejected the principles of the 1890 act; emphasised that
there is no clear distinction between mental and physical illness, defining mental illness as
"the inability of the patient to maintain his social equilibrium"; recommended a community
service based on the treatment of patients in their own homes wherever possible with a strong
preventive element; certification should be a last resort, not a preliminary to treatment; there
should be no distinction in the methods of certification used for private and pauper patients;
local authorities should established outpatient clinics, provide observation beds in general
hospitals and fund after-care services provided by voluntary agencies; mental hospitals
should not exceed 1000 beds; and made many other recommendations. "The keynote of the
past", said the Commission, "has been detention. The keynote of the future should be
prevention and treatment". See 1930.
The Finlay Report on Legal Aid, Cmd.2638, published. See 1930.
International Sanitary Convention extended to include smallpox and typhus.
Holding a diploma of public health became a requirement for most posts of medical
officer of health.
Treatment of pernicious anaemia (previously a fatal condition) by eating large
quantities of liver introduced by GR Minot (1885-1950, American physician) and WP
Murphy (1892-1936); liver extracts became available in 1928, and were later replaced by
vitamin B12.
Council for the Preservation of Rural England founded.
University of Reading founded.
JL Baird (1888-1946, electrical engineer) first demonstrated television.
In May there was a general strike (4th to 12th).
1927 Poor Law (Consolidation) Act (17&18 Geo.V, c.14) consolidated previous legislation.
See 1930 and 1931.
Mental Deficiency Act (17&18 Geo.V, c.33) amended sections of the 1913 act. See
1929.
Trade Disputes and Trade Union Act (17&18 Geo.V, c.22) followed the general strike
in 1926; imposed contracting in for the political levy and outlawed general and sympathetic
strikes. See 1946.
Unemployment Insurance Act (17&18 Geo.V, c.30) reduced benefits. See 1930.
Midwives and Maternity Homes (Scotland) Act (17&18 Geo.V, c.17) introduced
registration with, and inspection by, local authorities. See 1937.
The Consultative Committee of the Board of Education (chairman, Sir W Henry
Hadow, 1859-1937, scholar and educationist) recommended in its report "The Education of
the Adolescent" the division of schools into primary (elementary) and secondary, with
transfer at the age of 11; that there should be different types of secondary schools; and, the