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of nose and throat swabs, sputum, fasces, urine, blood, cerebrospinal
fluid, exudates, swabs from situations other than the nose and throat,
washings of infected cavities, hair and scales for ringworm, biopsy
material for trichina larvae and so on, provision is also made for the
examination of water, shellfish, sewage, milk, icecream, retail food and
certain other materials.
Specimens from general practitioners are in the main sent to the
Town Hall and taken by messenger daily to the laboratory.
Samples of milk may be submitted by the Department for examination
for pathogenic bacteria in relation to suspected cases of outbreaks
of milkborne disease ; for tubercle bacilli in certain cases and for grading
under the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations. Samples of icecream
are submitted for evidence of bacterial contamination and for grading,
whilst samples of food offered for sale are submitted for suitability for
human consumption, for pathogenic organisms and for evidence of
bacterial toxins in relation to outbreaks of cases of suspected food
poisoning.

No diphtheria-causing organisms were isolated during the year.
The figures for sputa include microscopic and cultural examinations for
tubercle bacilli. Two Lowenstein-Jensen cultures made during the year
were positive, both of them being from the same patient.
Of the faeces examined, there was one case of threadworms in a child, and
there were 150 positives, the majority being Shigella sonnei, the remainder
Salmonella typhi-murium.
National Assistance Act, 1948 — section 47
Under section 47 of the above Act, as amended by the National
Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, persons suffering from grave chronic
disease, or who are aged, infirm or physically incapacitated, and who are
living in insanitary conditions and unable to devote to themselves and
not receiving from other persons proper care and attention, may be
removed compulsorily. For this the medical officer of health must be
satisfied, after thorough inquiry and consideration, that in the interests
of any such person or for preventing injury to the health of, or serious
nuisance to, other persons it is necessary to remove that person.
The Local Authority may then apply to a court of summary jurisdisction
for an order for the removal of the person to a suitable hospital
or other place in, or within convenient distance of, the area of the local