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During 1927, 367 inspections were made of the cows in London cowsheds,
and the total number of examinations made was 8,125. No case of generalised
tuberculosis was detected, but in 116 cases other unhealthy conditions were found.
During the year the Council again considered the need for the provision of
additional accommodation for the treatment of rheumatic children. Acute cases
of rheumatism in children are treated in children's hospitals and general and special
hospitals, but there was evident need for more accommodation for convalescent
cases. The Metropolitan Asylums Board was asked as to the prospects of such
accommodation being provided and, after being supplied by the Council with particulars
of the needs, has decided to provide additional permanent accommodation
of 350 beds at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, for children of both sexes suffering
from sub-acute rheumatism, the later stages of acute rheumatism, rheumatic chorea
and rheumatic carditis, including recurrent attacks.
Consideration was given to the need for taking fresh measures to combat diphtheria
in view of the recent evidence published by the Medical Research Council
contained in a report* by Dr. J. Graham Forbes, a principal assistant medical officer
in the public health department. The method of prevention referred to in the
report is that known as the "Schick test" for ascertaining whether or not a person
is immune from diphtheria, and with it is associated a method of "active immunisation
" by the injection of toxoid-antitoxin mixture for persons found to be susceptible.
The evidence showed that in London as elsewhere the mortality from diphtheria
has been markedly reduced since the introduction of antitoxin treatment.
The metropolitan borough councils are the local authorities statutorily responsible
in London for the prevention of the spread of infectious disease such as diphtheria
although the Council has certain responsibilities in regard to the health of school
children. Certain metropolitan borough councils have initiated centres at which
facilities for immunisation are available and in other boroughs the matter is under
consideration. The Council came to the conclusion that in the present state of
knowledge it would be premature for it to introduce any measure of active
immunisation among school children, even on a limited scale, until further experience
is gained. The matter will be considered again in a year's time.
Representations were made by a number of metropolitan borough councils,
supported by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to the Council,
asking it to promote legislation requiring compulsory registration with the sanitary
authorities of ice cream makers and vendors and their premises. Powers had been
granted by Parliament to certain provincial corporations in regard to the registration
of premises used for the manufacture and sale of ice cream and it appeared desirable
that registration should be required in London so that the sanitary authorities
might have complete information as to where ice cream and similar commodities are
being made, stored and sold and thus be in a position to exercise their existing
powers for securing that proper conditions are observed at premises on which ice
cream is manufactured, etc. The Council accordingly decided to apply to Parliament
to require that any premises used or proposed to be used for the manufacture for sale,
storage for sale or sale of ice cream or other similar commodity in the administrative
county of London (except premises occupied as a factory or workshop, respecting
which notice is required under section 127 of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901,
and premises used as a hotel, restaurant or club) should be registered with the sanitary
authority. The latter premises were omitted as the position of premises of this
kind is usually well known to the sanitary authority.
The Council decided to take in hand the revision of the by-laws made under
section 39 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, relating to the construction of
water closets, etc. Urinals are not mentioned in this section and it appeared
*Medical Research Council. The Prevention of Diphtheria, by Dr. J. Graham Forbes, M.D.,
F.R C.P., D.P.H., 1927. His Majesty's Stationery Office, 2s. net.
Rheumatism.
Diphtheria.
Ice cream.
By-laws as to
waterclosets,
etc.