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and the discovery of arsenic, in a large proportion of imported apples.
These subjects have been dealt with fully in my quarterly reports, but
I may remark that in the matter of the apples, the disclosure of the
fresh danger to the public health has led to widespread action by Local
Authorities all over the country and to the circular recently issued by
the Minister of Health.
The constancy with which these fresh outbreaks of contamination
or skilful adulteration appear from time to time shows how important
it is for your Medical Officer of Health and Public Analyst to cooperate in the careful supervision of the food supply of the Borough.
One other point to which I would refer is that of the misdescription of goods; while there is no doubt that the bulk of retailers are of
perfectly honest intent, there are a number of articles which are sold
under names (often unwittingly on the part of the vendor) which
amount to a fraudulent misdescription. Without going into details
here, I hope it may be possible in the near future to take steps to stop
this and ensure that the name on any particular article accurately represents the nature of the article.
I have the honour to remain.
Your obedient Servant,
H. E. COX,
Public Analyst.
Section 6.
Prevalence of, and Control oyer, Infectious
Diseases.
Infectious Diseases Generally.
The last five years have not been marked by any outbreak of
infectious disease that one could term unusual. There has been in
most of these years a greater prevalence of certain of the commoner
infectious diseases than in other years. Thus, in 1921, there were
notified 408 cases of Diphtheria and 371 cases of Scarlet Fever;
this is an unusually large number. In 1922 an increase occurred in
the number of cases of Measles, when 887 were notified.
The year 1923 proved to be a good year, and a comparatively small
number of cases of infectious disease was reported. An epidemic of