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During the year the Borough continued to have
considerable landings of foreign egg products,
particularly Chinese. Routine extensive bacteriological
testing revealed that this Chinese egg is almost
invariably contaminated with food poisoning organisms.
All egg products that could be submitted to a sterilising
process were treated in special heat chambers to render
the egg safe. This has been found to be most effective
but, unfortunately, heat can only be applied to powdered
or flaked albumen and not to whole egg products. This
Council is disturbed about the problem and believes that
stringent regulations should be made requiring all egg to
be pasteurised and adequately tested prior to processing
before being allowed entry into the country. Random or
percentage sampling in this country can never be
completely effective and it seems reasonable that the
United Kingdom should demand the highest possible
standards of manufacturing procedure from the country of
origin. This egg question has placed an onerous burden
on many riparian authorities and serious decisions
regarding disposal of valuable cargoes have had to be
taken. A great deal of laborious testing could be
avoided if importers were required to produce adequate
certificates similar to those demanded for imported meat
showing effective pasteurisation and testing in the
exporting country. Pasteurisation plant is available
and extensive tests have proved that egg pasteurisation is
both practicable and efficient and does not interfere
seriously with the quality of the egg.
The Rent Act has meant increased work in the Department
and there seems to be no slackening in the demand for
the services of the Public Health Inspector in connection
with all the complicated procedures of this Act.
The work on behalf of the old people has extended and
has necessitated further augmentation of staff at the
Bathing Station. The Council will be considering early
next year the engagement of another Lady Health Inspector
and already the facilities for laundry and bathing are
being utilised almost to full capacity. I have included
a summary of the report of the Old Peoples' Welfare
Committee and it is gratifying to note the close
co-operation which exists between that Committee and the
Health Department. Once again we have been heavily
dependent on the Geriatric Unit at St. Alfege's Hospital
and it is pleasing to acknowledge the degree of willing
help and co-operation that we receive from the many
workers in this field. During the year one old person
had to be removed to hospital for urgent care and
treatment under the National Assistance Act, 1948.
The detailed survey of the Council's first Smoke
Control Area has progressed and early next year the
Council is expected to make the necessary Smoke Control
Order. Already the effortp of the Department are having
practical results. Many industrial concerns have gone
over to smokeless fuel or oil and analysis of our records
at our two Measuring Stations shows that last year smoke
pollution had decreased by almost one third over the
previous year, although, as one would expect, sulphur is at
about the same level. However, the problem of grit
(which is not covered by the Clean Air Act) will require
serious thought because despite genuine effort on the part
of industrialists to minimise grit emission undoubtedly
there are many processes, particularly in the north-west
part of the Borough, which are associated with serious
grit and dust problems and cause inconvenience and
annoyance to adjacent residents,,