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4 REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1958
cases and more research into the physiological causes and means of
prevention of chronic bronchitis. In this connection, it is interesting
to know of the proposals to set up in Wandsworth a "model" chest
clinic which will work closely with and be staffed from the Brompton
Hospital. It is hoped that there will thus be provided not only a
maintenance of the existing service but facilities for research and if
the local public health departments can play any part, we shall
certainly do so.
This year, for the first time, I have devoted a small section of the
Report to accidents in the home. It is not possible to obtain absolutely
accurate figures of home accidents but from data provided by
the London Ambulance Service I have been able to calculate for the
years 1956, 1957, and 1958, figures which I believe are reasonably
accurate. I hope to be able to continue this year by year so that we
shall have a record over the years of home accidents in our population.
As I mention in the body of the Report, the measures most likely to
reduce these accidents are educative through the medium of our
public health inspectors, health visitors and other workers.
The routine work of the public health inspectors has continued,
handicapped, as I have pointed out in previous years, by the shortage
of staff. Headway has been made in implementing the Food Hygiene
Regulations, much help being received from tradespeople and
retailers. In this connection, it is interesting, as I pointed out earlier,
to note the reduction in the number of cases of food poisoning
notified in 1958 as compared with 1957 and it is tempting to relate
the one to the other. While certainly we may hope that part of this
reduction may indeed be due to our various efforts in this field,
there are also other and more fortuitous factors at work. Nevertheless,
we may be seeing some results of this legislation and it will be
interesting to watch the trend of food poisoning notifications in
future years.
In my last year's Report, I referred briefly to the important
problem of Clean Air and the fact that a public enquiry had been
held in connection with the Council's first Smoke Control Area.
The Minister in due course confirmed the Order which will come
into operation shortly. In the meantime, considerable steps have
been taken by the Health Department staff, working in close liaison
with the Town Clerk's Department, in advising, supervising and
approving the work done in many premises to enable the various
approved fuels to be burned.
Work under the Rent Act, 1957, continued; apart from inspections
of property by the Inspectors a large volume of administrative and
"office" routine is necessary to ensure that the various procedures
possible under the Act are being complied with.
During the year, all my colleagues in the Health Department
have worked well, energetically supported as usual by the Chairman
of the Health Committee, Councillor T. V. Rowlands to whom