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How can the employer be expected to consider the Food Hygiene
Regulations seriously if the Mass X-Ray Unit is prohibited from
divulging, these cases to the Medical Officer of Health on the ground
that anonymity must be maintained in regard to the findings of the
Mass X-Ray Unit even at the expense of endangering the public!
Two cases of typhoid were discovered during the year and removed
to Hither Green Hospital. In the course of enquiries regarding
the first case, the child was discovered to be the son of a publican.
Immediately the contacts were carefully interrogated and an ancient
relative living on the premises reported that she had had typhoid
some 20 odd years ago. Examination confirmed that she was still
excreting the organisms. Fortunately, among the many contacts
investigated only one other case — in this instance one of salmonella
typhi-murium — was discovered.
Some interesting facts were discovered during the investigation
of these cases. During her working days, the old lady had been
employed in canteens and a hospital kitchen, and it appears remarcable
able that no previous outbreaks had been related to her. As she
had also served in the bar from time to time it also seems strange
that no contamination had occurred there. It was possible that
either she was scrupulously clean or that she was very intermittent
in her excretions. The possibility that beer is sufficiently bactericidal
to have annihilated all organisms indiscreetly dispensed with
the customers' potions is unlikely. The family have now moved
into an adjoining borough, again to manage a public house!
The increasing number of immigrants to this country may be
of some concern to the public health authorities as is shown by an
investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Water Board indicating
that a not inconsiderable number of coloured workmen were infacted
fected with intestinal parasites. Quite apart from pollution of the
water supply it would appear that they would also be liable to disseminate
seminate these parasites through cafes or canteens where they might
be employed or which they frequent.
SCABIES
Two interesting minor epidemics occurred during the year.
Twelve local employees were found to have rashes and were referred
to the Public Health Department for confirmation and treatment.
After careful investigation it was found that one girl had probably
acquired the infection whilst at the hopfields in September and had
"hidden" her rash for nearly three months ; in the meantime she
had infected her sister with whom she slept and also at least one
friend who had slept at her home. It is considered that the other
girls who all worked in the same office were probably infected by
the use of communal hand towels.