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7
On the brighter side, eight families investigated during the year obtained alternative
housing accommodation, apart from those visited in previous years. Adequate housing
accommodation and proper environmental conditions for every case of tuberculosis continue
to be ideals which have small chance of attainment in the near future. In the meanwhile the
public health department has done much to improve the living conditions of the patients by
enforcing compliance with public health notices relating to dampness, leaking roofs, general
repair and redecoration and the provision of adequate water supplies. In addition, your
inspectors are giving much tactful advice on such matters as sleeping arrangements to reinforce
the advice of the chest clinic to secure that the patient should have a separate room or at least
a separate bed, or by emphasising the need for adequate ventilation and'how it can be secured.
In addition, much helpful guidance is given where requested in welfare matters such as where
and how to obtain financial assistance. Co-operation with the Chest Physician and his staff
is close and continuous and we are much indebted to Dr. Back for his active co-operation.
I feel sure you will wish me to refer in particular to the splendid work which is being
carried out by your sanitary inspectors in helping, insofar as we may, in the difficult problem
of tuberculosis. It remains serious, although there are signs that newer drugs and newer methods
of treatment are becoming available to the patient. Many lives are being saved and many
conditions considered hopeless some years ago are responding to treatment.
It may be argued that this means that there is a larger background of tuberculosis in
the borough in that the chances of survival of the tubercular are being increased. I do not
think this is actually so. The infectious patient was largely the chronic case of tuberculosis
treated at home. It is possible that modern methods of investigation and treatment secure that
tuberculosis is treated earlier and the patient rendered free from infection at a considerably
earlier date than heretofore. However this may be, tuberculosis still remains the major endemic
disease with which we have to cope, and although the tuberculosis regulations have been
modified I am satisfied that many Government departments and every type of council has an
important part to play in its eradication. As the sanitary authority is the authority responsible
for environmental hygiene it is almost impossible to exaggerate the importance of the
metropolitan borough in this field.
Food and Drugs.
Your Public Health Department continued its close supervision of the food sold and
consumed in the Borough. It is pleasing to know that of the 330 samples of milk which were
analysed chemically not one was found to be adulterated.
Whereas the law lays down that ice cream shall contain not less than 5 per cent. of fat
it will be found that of the 62 samples examined none was found to be deficient and the fat
content was well over the minimum standard, being as much as over 14 per cent. in one case
and exceeding 6 per cent. in all but 9 samples.
Of the 178 samples of ice cream examined for bacteriological purity 133 were of grades I
and II, that is the two highest of the four grades into which ice cream is divided for this test.
In those cases where the grade was III or IV an immediate investigation was made, from
which it was usually found that a small technical fault caused temporary bacteriological increase.
Further samples showed an improvement in standard. There is a very close collaboration
between your Food Inspectors and manufacturers of ice cream which has resulted in a steady
improvement in the quality of this product.
These remarks do not mean that vigorous action is not taken where this is warranted.
Legal proceedings were instituted in seven cases, where either a particular food was found to
be adulterated or unfit for human consumption.