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measures were taken to control the spread of this highly infectious
condition. A Public Health Inspector visited each home in which the
disease was known to be present, and advised parents both orally and
by leaving a suitable leaflet, on preventive measures. He arranged
for the necessary bacteriological investigation to be carried out.
Appropriate measures were taken also by the London County Council
Divisional Health staff to control the infection in schools. In all
this the co-operation of both parents and teachers was readily forthcoming.
As the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health states
inhis Annual Report for 1959, "Only detailed attention to personal
cleanliness, and, above all, the washing of hands after attendance
at the toilet, combined with adequate sanitary provision in homes,
schools and similar institutions, will break the cycle of infection
and reduce the incidence."
Another alimentary infection which calls for special mention
was due to Salmonella typhi-murium phage type 2c which gave rise to
cases of food poisoning of varying degrees of severity as well as
to a symptomless carrier state in over fifty persons in an enclosed
community, during May. The outbreak rapidly subsided after the discovery
and isolation of a symptomless excretor of the organism involved,
who worked in the bakery from which confectionery had been
consumed by all the cases.
Health Education
Those of us who were in close touch with the outbreaks of poliomyelitis
which occurred in this country in 1947 and the years immediately
following can recall how we longed for the virus to be isolated
and a vaccine prepared. Thanks to the efforts of many experts this
has now been done and a vaccine of proved worth is available to persons
under forty years of age free of charge under the National Health
Service Act through the local health authorities. There remains the
task of persuading the maximum number of persons to attend for necessary
inoculations. Of six cases of poliomyelitis which occurred in
Southwark during 1960 only one gave a history of having had poliomyelitis
vaccine. As has already been stated, none of the three
children who suffered from diphtheria had been immunised against the
condition. Here then is a fundamental field for health education
and during the year this department collaborated with the London County
Council in the display of posters, and in issuing leaflets, to supplement
the direct and personal approach of the Health Visitors. Similar
action was taken in relation to alimentary infections, and the Public
Health Inspectors assiduously stressed the importance of food hygiene
during their visits to catering establishments. Full advantage was
taken of the many facilities provided by the Central Council for
Health Education, and the excellent display "Clean Air, Better
Health "was exhibited in the Central Public Library, Southwark,
during April. In addition, the Council co-operated with the London
County Council in regard to Annual Home Safety Week publicity material
being provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.