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Public Health.
173
outbreaks of this disease in London during the past 20 years. There were two articles of food to which
suspicion attached, viz., ice-cream and fried fish, and it is interesting to note that of the 56 persons
attacked by the disease 21 had recently consumed ice-cream, while no fewer than 52 had partaken of
fish. The report strikingly illustrates difficulties which may be encountered in discriminating between
suspected articles of food.
Cerebrospinal
fever.
On 31st January, 1911, the Council made an order under section 56 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, extending for a further period of 12 months from 13th March, 1911, the notification of all
cases of cerebro-spinal fever (epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis) occurring within the County of
London. It has been arranged with the medical officers of health of the sanitary districts for particulars
of all cases of the disease notified in London to be furnished to the Council. This information
is communicated to every medical officer, who is thus at once put into possession of all available
information as to cases occurring in other districts, and facilities are afforded for observation in the
event of the disease showing any tendency to spread. The services of Dr. Wanklyn, an assistant
medical officer of health, are also available with a view to the investigation of cases in association with
medical practitioners in London, should they so desire. During the year 1911, 101 cases were notified,
making a total of 642 cases since notification became compulsory in 1907.
Health
conference.
A conference between representatives ot the Council and the metropolitan borough councils
on various matters affecting public health was convened by the Council and held on 6th April at the
County Hall. Representatives appointed by the Corporation of the City of London, the metropolitan
borough councils, the Metropolitan Asylums Board and the Local Government Board attendec.
The undermentioned subjects were considered and resolutions passed thereon: (1) houses let
in lodgings; (2) pulmonary tuberculosis; (3) measles; (4) water supply to tenement houses;
(5) places where food is prepared and exposed for sale; (6) notification of Births Act, 1907;
(7) chattels of rest.
Census of
homeless
persons.
In 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1910 censuses were taken of homeless persons in the County of
London by the medical officer in order to ascertain the use made of common lodging-houses, and the
provision existing for the accommodation of persons of the poorest class. A further census was made
on the night of 17th February, 1911, and the medical officer submitted a report showing the number
of persons found homeless on that night in the streets, on staircases or under arches, the number and
sex of parsons who might reasonably be regarded as homeless on the ground of not being able to pay
for a bed, and the arrangements made for the shelter of persons of this description, and other information
bearing on the question. It is worthy of note that on the night of the census there was vacant
accommodation for 7,038 persons in common lodging-houses and for 704 persons in casual wards.
Following the practice adopted in previous years, the report was printed and placed on sale.*
Royal Commission
on
Tuberculosis.
During the year, the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the relations of human and
animal tuberculosis made its final report. The conclusions arrived at by the Commissioners were (1) that
man must be added to the list of animals notably susceptible to bovine tubercle bacilli; (2) that other
mammals and man can be reciprocally infected with tuberculosis, that bovine animals are not completely
immune to the human tubercle bacillus, and adult human beings can be infected with the bovine type,
even the pulmonary form of this disease in man being sometimes caused by the bovine tubercle bacillus;
and (3) that “there can be no doubt that a considerable proportion of the tuberculosis affecting children
is of bovine origin," and that “a considerable amount of the tuberculosis of childhood is to be ascribed
to infection with bacilli of the bovine type, transmitted to children in meals conisting largely of the
milk of the cow." The report indicates the need for more ample powers than are now possessed by the
Council for the exclusion of tuberculous milk from London, and the desirableness of the continual exercise
of existing powers until the subject can be dealt with in a comprehensive manner by Parliament.
Public health
(tuberculosis)
regulations.
Under a general order dated 15th November, 1911, the Local Government Board issued a turther
series of regulations in relation to the notification of pulmonary tuberculosis. These regulations complete
the system of notification inaugurated in 1908, and every medical practitioner (with certair
exceptions) is now required to notify every case of pulmonary tuberculosis occurring in the course
either of his public or private practice.
Milk.
During the year under review the reports presented to the Council on the administration of
Part IV. of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, showed that between the date
of the coming into operation of the Act and 31st December, 1911, 7,896 sampes of milk had been
examined, with the result that 850, or 10.8 per cent., proved tuberculous. The milk came from 28
different counties. During the year 3,029 samples were taken, of which 316 were found to be tuberculous.
The Council's veterinary inspector has visited for inspection purposes, since the Act came into
operation, 1,622 farms and inspected 44,307 cows, of which number 574, or 1.3 per cent., were found to
be affected with tuberculosis of the udder. During the year 503 farms were visited and 15,510 cows
were examined, of which 91 were found with tuberculous udders. The owners of the animals affected
undertook that the use for human consumption of the milk should be discontinued immediately.
Under the provisions of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, by which
the Council is authorised to seize and slaughter any cow suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis
of the udder, the cows in London cowsheds are examined about six times in the year by a veterinary
inspector appointed by the Council. During the year under review 18 animals have been seized and
slaughtered under the Act, and compensation amounting to £194 has been paid, the post-mortem
examination showing in each case that the udder of the animal was tuberculous.
Report by the Medical Officer, submitting the result of a census of homeless persons taken on the night of 17th
February) 1911 (No. 1417). Price 2d.