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84
DYSENTERY.
The same rule for the notification of Malaria (as described above) applies to Dysentery.
84 cases were notified during the year, of which one died. 58 of the cases were St.
Pancras residents, and the remaining 26 were all in-patients of the Hospital for Tropical
Diseases. Bacteriological examinations were made in 72 cases in which the types were : —
Sonne, 44 ; Flexner, 2 ; Amoebic, 26 Nine cases were diognosed clinically, one not bacteriologically
confirmed, the remaining three were subsequently held not to be Dysentery.
FOOD POISONING.
Food Poisoning and suspected Food Poisoning were made notifiable by Section 7 of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, which came into force on July 12th,
of that year.
Sixty-five notifications were received during the year, and there was one death.
Hie following reports were submitted by the Medical Officer of Health :—
(a)—
" I have to inform you that I have received a report dated 1st September, 1937,
from the Deputy Medical Officer of Health concerning a number of cases of food
poisoning that occurred in the Borough during August while I was on leave.
The first case was reported on Monday, August 23rd, and during the next
few days some fifty cases were under observation by the Public Health Department.
The cause of the outbreak was food purchased at a shop in the neighbouring
Borough of Finsbury, and the Medical Officer of Health of that Borough is
preparing a detailed report on the whole matter. There were in all three deaths,
of which one was that of a St. Pancras resident.
At the inquest upon these cases on the 2nd September, the Coroner said that
he was satisfied that the authorities concerned had taken all necessary action to
prevent the spread of the outbreak. It will be appreciated that a great deal of
work was thrown upon the Department in dealing with an extensive outbreak of
this kind during the holiday season, and the Deputy Medical Officer of Health
draws attention to the splendid manner in which he was assisted by the staff in
the investigation and control of the outbreak.
(b)-
I have to report the occurrence of thirteen cases of food poisoning amongst
those who partook of the midda\f meal provided on the 9th July at an institution
in the Borough.
The institution in question was not the one referred to in Report (c) below.
All cases have now made a satisfactory recovery.
No definite pathological organisms were isolated as a result of the full
bacteriological examinations made, but it appears probable that the symptoms
were due to toxic substances developing in ham that had been contaminated with
micro-organisms.
Steps were taken which should minimise the risk of a further occurrence
of this kind.
(c)-
The Deputy Medical Officer of Health has reported the occurrence of ten
cases of food poisoning among the staff of an Institution in the Borough on the
22nd August.