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For each of the above a fee of 2/6d. is payable by the Local Authority to the medical
practitioner if the case occurs in his private practice, or 1/- if the case occurs in his practice
as medical officer of a public body or institution.
Notifications
During the year 245 cases of infectious disease were notified, of which 72 were removed
to hospital. These are tabulated in the age groups (see Table No. 6, page 22). Comparative
figures of infectious disease for the years 1930-1959 are also shown (see Table No. 7,
pages 24 and 25).
Diphtheria
Two cases, both of a 'mitis' strain, were notified and removed to hospital. In one
case the patient was the only member of a family of four children not to have been
immunised.
Dysentery
Twenty-eight cases were notified and nine were removed to hospital. Eighteen cases
were the result of an outbreak of Shigella sonnei infection in the Kingsway Creche.
Numerous swabs were taken and examined by the Public Health Laboratory, County
Hall, the positive cases being excluded from the Creche under care of their own doctors
until three consecutive negative specimens had been produced.
Enteric Fever
No cases were notified during the year.
Erysipelas
Two cases were notified and were treated at home.
Food Poisoning
Nineteen cases were notified and seventeen of them were removed to hospital. In
ten of these cases the patient was not resident in Holborn.
Information was received from various local authorities of sixteen other cases
alleged to have been due to the consumption of a meal in a restaurant in Holborn. The
restaurant was inspected and the staff interviewed. The kitchen equipment was excellent.
One waitress admitted that she had suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting on the day in
question. Faecal specimens from the staff were submitted for examination at the Royal
Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. All specimens produced a negative result except
that from the person who had been ill, which gave a growth of Salmonella Typhimurium.
This employee was advised to visit her doctor who was informed of the facts of the
case. She and the restaurant proprietor were advised that she should not return to work
until three consecutive negative specimens had been received.