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ANTHRAX
No case of anthrax was reported during the year.
CANCER
Of a total of 539 deaths from cancer occurring this year 190 were due to cancer of the
lung. The death rate of lung cancer was 0.98 per 1,000 population, an increase of more than 7%
over last year.
DIPHTHERIA
No cases of diphtheria came to the notice of the department during the year.
Particulars relating to children immunised against diphtheria will be found on page
91.
DYSENTERY
Notified cases of dysentery totalled 40, compared with 50 during the previous year.
FOOD POISONING
Fifty-three cases of food poisoning were notified during the year, compared with 78 in
1967. Organisms of Salmonella typhi-murium were isolated in 17 cases. Ten of these were
connected with an outbreak at a local hospital, four being patients and six home contacts.
Organisms of Salmonella panama were discovered in two instances as was Salmonella oranienberg.
Salmonella Stanley was found in one case and Salmonella enteritides in another. Clostridium
welchii was found in one case during investigation of contacts of an incidence of dysentery.
Twenty-four cases of suspected food poisoning were reported in an outbreak at an office
canteen in the borough. The investigations led to the conclusion that this outbreak was attributable
to twice cooking meat into which an organism had been introduced during the chain of
distribution. From the material available it was not possible to prove the presence of the
organism, and all faecal samples were negative.
Two general outbreaks and one family outbreak were reported to the Ministry of Health as
required by Memorandum 188/Med.
INFECTIVE JAUNDICE
During investigation of the 61 notifications received from 15th June, it became apparent
that some of these cases were drug addicts. The cases between the ages of 15 and 30 years
numbered 20, and of these, six were known addicts, attending a local clinic.
LEPROSY
One notification of leprosy was received during the year in a person who had lived many
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