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Of these, six referred to children who had been admitted to hospital with anaemia
and raised blood lead level, and a request was made for domiciliary investigation into
the source of the poisoning. In four of the cases evidence was found of paint being
chewed, e.g. on cot, dining room table, door etc. In the two remaining cases the source
was not determined.
Of the other two references, one was an enquiry from the Medical Officer of
Health of another area asking for information of the paint being used on plastic toys
manufactured in the Borough. It was subsequently confirmed that lead free paint was
used by this firm.
The final reference occurred shortly before Christmas, when the police brought to
the Public Health Department a plastic tool set submitted to them by a parent who
stated that he had purchased it at a local store. He had taken this action because he
had heard a broadcast regarding a possible danger from such toys which were imported
from Hong Kong. The toys were forwarded to the Public Analyst for examination for lead
content. The amount of lead was found to vary considerably according to the colour of
the toys, but it was understood from discussions with the Home office that none of the
findings would be regarded by the Home Office as being at dangerous levels should the
toys be chewed by a child, even though in some specimens examined the lead could not
be described as negligible. It was understood that following representations by other
authorities in the past, the Home Office had been in communication with the Hong Kong
Authorities, and that recent consignments of these toys had been found to have a
negligible lead content. This matter did not appear to be subject to statutory action
and in any event it was not possible to trace the original store stated to have sold
the toys. The Home Office was formally notified of the findings of the Public Analyst.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever
There were three confirmed cases of typhoid fever and two cases suggestive of
paratyphoid fever in the Borough during the year as follows:-
Typhoid Fever
A male Nigerian, aged 23 years, was admitted to hospital on the 11th March, 1965,
and reported as a case of typhoid fever, with a positive blood culture. He had arrived
in England on the 12th February 1965. Domiciliary enquiries were carried out and
routine bacteriological examination of primary contacts proved negative.
A male Indian, aged 28 years, was admitted to hospital on the 12th August, and
reported as a case of typhoid fever, onset being the 7th August, 1965. He had left
Calcutta by plane on the 9th July, 1965.
Routine bacteriological investigation of contacts was carried out in each case
with negative results, and the medical practitioners were informed.
The organism's phage type '0' is more peculiar to Indian communities, and
suggested that the illness may have been contracted in India, or through contact with
an Indian carrier in this country.
A female Islington resident aged 25 years was admitted to an Isolation Hospital
on the 9th October, 1965, and reported as a case of typhoid fever, with a positive
faeces and blood culture.
The patient had recently returned from a fortnight's holiday in Italy, and it was
thought that this infection was probably contracted abroad. Extensive enquiries and
routine bacteriological investigation of contacts both in this and adjacent Boroughs
were carried out with negative results.
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