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4. OUTBREAKS OF UNDISCOVERED CAUSE.
Total cases approx. — 76*.
Total outbreaks — 4.
5. SINGLE CASES.
Agent identified — Nil.
Unknown cause — 56. Total — 56.
* Only 18 of these cases were notified.
Three of the outbreaks referred to in item 4 occurred at
schools in the Borough following the consumption of midday
meals prepared by the London County Council School Meals
Service. The other outbreak occurred at a Hostel for Crippled
Women, the suspected cause being a meat pie prepared in the
Hostel kitchen.
Reduction of food poisoning depends on the raising of
hygienic standards in all persons intimately associated with
food. Considerable attention continues to be given to the
Clean Food Campaign. In this connection the Central Office
of Information arranged for the following films to be shown at
Dulwich Baths on the 7th December, 1950 : —
" Town Rats."
" The Good Housewife in the Kitchen."
" Another case of Poisoning."
"A Fly about the House."
The programme lasted approximately one hour and was
shown three times during the day. There was no charge for
admission. The Medical Officer of Health addressed a communication
to the proprietor of every food premises in the
Borough requesting that all persons engaged in the food trade
should be encouraged to attend. It is to be regretted that the
attendances were poor, and one is compelled to conclude that
this is due to lack of interest.
Scabies.
There was a considerable reduction in the number of
notifications of scabies during 1950—46 as compared with 84
in the previous year. Every case was visited by the District
Sanitary Inspector who endeavoured to arrange for all members
of the family to attend at the Cleansing Station for treatment.
The record of such attendances is shown in the table appearing
on page 17.