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unaffected. Patients themselves, where practicable, must be bacteriologically
examined as regards blood, urine, faeces; even contacts may
require similar investigation in case a carrier of food infection is suspected.
It may be that one engaged in handling food, although apparently
healthy or with some tiny superficial focus of infection may be the
unconscious cause.
Proposed structural work—new buildings, drainage plans. Application
for building licence?—Schemes of improvements to old premises and
contemplated new buildings, much held in check for the first three years
after the war are now coming forth in surprising numbers. At each
meeting of the Public Health Committee the Chairman submits some
80-100 of these proposals to the Committee. Each scheme of adaptation,
alteration, new building work and drainage has to be reported on and
that implies previous consultation with architects and builders and visits
to the site of proposed new works. The reason for all this work, necessary
but lengthy in operation, is that structural and sanitary work must
comply with certain standards laid down in Statute and By-laws.
Gerontology.—The world of today loves new terms. A flavour of
erudition is achieved by substituting new names for old. All this word
means is the care and welfare of old people. It was the revelation during
the war of the plight of old people, the need for uprooting them from
their homes and transporting them away from the bombs into safe
areas that stirred public interest. Some of them grieve in loneliness,
others cherish it. In 1945 at a meeting of the war-time Westminster War
Needs Committee it was suggested by me that this Committee instead of
winding up should transfer its activities to the care of the aged and
friendless in the City. Throughout the whole country the movement has
gathered momentum. Perhaps it was, as in Westminster, that the
domestic help service begun during the war was disclosing the plight
of many who had hitherto strenuously concealed their existence from
any curious eyes. But even before the war the condition of infirm aged
people had become a problem to this department. Neighbours, some less
compassionate than others, complained of insanitary conditions. For
those who were willing to be cared for in hospital or other institution,
there was no great difficulty before the war in obtaining admission. For
those who merited removal for well defined reasons, but who steadfastly
refused to go, compulsory removal had to be undertaken, a singularly
unpleasant and embarrassing duty for the Sanitary Inspector who had
to resort to this measure after the Medical Officer of Health had satisfied
the Magistrate that compulsory removal was the only resort. These
powers under Section 224 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, were
only exercised on one or two occasions before and during the war. In
recent years the problem has greatly intensified. The number of old
people who would benefit by nursing and care in an institution has risen
in Westminser as follows:—
65—1945; 94—1946; 132—1947; 221—1948.
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