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55
With regard to (5): —
One of the difficulties experienced in tracing the course of many of the outbreaks
of illness due to food poisoning has been the fact that knowledge of such only comes to
the Medical Officer of Health in a haphazard manner, as there is no compulsion upon
anyone to notify such, but the circular letter of the Local Government Board, dated
September, 1911, inviting voluntary notification, has done much to stimulate interest,
and to ensure investigation. Although it was believed, that it was generally understood
by medical men practising in the City, that the Corporation were willing and anxious to
undertake investigation into the character, &c., of any illnesses that might be ascribed
to food poisoning, a circular letter was directed to all medical men practising in the
City of London calling attention to the readiness of the Corporation to conduct such
investigations without charge to the medical men in attendance, or to the patient,
or to the family.
SANITARY INSPECTIONS.