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working in the kitchen. Rectal swabs were taken from the
catering staff and examined for dysentery bacillus but the results
proved to be negative.
The Consultant Physician at St. Giles' Hospital reported to
the Medical Officer of Health that cases of diarrhoea were
occurring periodically among patients and staff at the hospital.
The possibility of a " carrier " being engaged in the preparation
of food was investigated. One male member of the catering
staff had a history of recent diarrhoea and arrangements were
made for rectal swabs to be taken and examined bacteriologically.
The man concerned was not allowed to handle foodstuffs until
negative results were obtained. Arrangements were also made
for each member of the catering staff to be interviewed to
ensure that nobody engaged in handling or preparing food was
working with diarrhoea, boils or septic spots. The question was
raised with the Secretary of the Camberwell Hospitals Management
Committee as to the advisability of hygiene being taught
to the members of the kitchen staffs at the hospitals.
Food Poisoning.
One hundred and sixty-five notifications of food poisoning
were received during the year. The following is a copy of the
Annual Return of Food Poisoning notifications which was forwarded
to the Ministry of Health in accordance with Circular
46/49 and Memo 188/Med, dated 24th May, 1949.
1. Local Authority : CAMBERWELL. Year : 1953.
2. FOOD POISONING NOTIFICATIONS (CORRECTED) RETURNED TO
R.G.
1st Quarter
5
2nd Quarter
10
3rd Quarter
141
4th Quarter
9
Total
165
3. OUTBREAKS DUE TO IDENTIFIED AGENTS.
Total Outbreaks : 2. Total cases : 151†.
Outbreaks due to :—
(a) Chemical poisons Nil.
(b) Salmonella Organisms 1
(c) Staphylococci (including toxin) 1
(d) CI. Botulinum Nil.
(e) Other bacteria Nil.
4. OUTBREAKS OF UNDISCOVERED CAUSE.
Total outbreaks: 1. Total cases: 27*.
5. SINGLE CASES.
Agent identified: Nil. Unknown cause: 30. Total: 30.
† 6 of these were resident in the Borough of Southwark and 10 in the Borough
of Lambeth.
* None of these cases was notified.
The large number of notifications received during the third
quarter was mainly due to an outbreak of food poisoning at two