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Thus in the twentieth as in the nineteenth and in many centuries before that, the City
Corporation continues to have opportunities to be perceptive and receptive of all new ideas for
the betterment of mankind and it can be a rewarding experience to work in that atmosphere.
The report that follows is a record of the many and varied activities of the City Health
Service during 1962. Success in our work has been facilitated by the active encouragement of the
Chairman and members of the Committee as well as of other members of the Corporation who
take a special interest and by the co-operation of business firms, trade interests, the general
public, and where appropriate of other Departments of the Corporation. Special thanks are due
to the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Public Analyst, Dr. H. Amphlett Williams.
This is a welcome opportunity of expressin g appreciation to everyone concerned.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
J. GREENWOOD WILSON, M.D., F.R.C.P.
Medical Officer of Health
Port and City of London.
VITAL STATISTICS
The resident population of the City according to the Registrar General's estimate at mid-year
1962 was 4,610.
The birth rate rose to 6.29 per 1,000 resident population and the death rate fell to 8.46 per
1,000 resident population compared with 5.80 and 10.01 respectively in 1961.
29 babies were born alive. 2 births were illegitimate.
The total number of deaths of all ages was 39; 30 male and 9 female. 13 deaths were due to
cancer, 6 of which were cancer of the lung. 8 deaths were due to pneumonia and 3 from bronchitis.
One was due to a motor accident.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOTIFIED
19 notifications of infectious disease were received, namely 1 of acute influenzal pneumonia (0),
2 of erysipelas (2), 4 of measles (23), 3 of puerperal pyrexia (0), 4 of scarlet fever (2), 1 of tuberculosis
(non-pulmonary) (0), 4 of tuberculosis (pulmonary) (5).
(The figures in brackets denote the comparable numbers of cases in 1961).
FOOD POISONING
During the year one outbreak of food poisoning occurred as a result of the consumption of midday
meals taken in the staff canteen of a City Office.
The firm notified that 19 members of their staff had been affected with abdominal pain and
diarrhoea during the night of the 19th/20th November. From the inquiries made and the information
gained the outbreak appeared to be due to a heat resistant strain of Clostridium welchii; the time
of onset i.e. average of 14.2 hours after the taking of the meals, the symptoms and the course of
the illness seemed to indicate a classical outbreak due to this organism.
"Roast beef", i.e. beef which had been cooked one day, carved cold and reheated the following
day was the only item on the menu taken in common by the people concerned. Portions of this
beef were submitted for bacteriological examination but no pathogenic organisms were isolated.
Endeavours were made to persuade some members of the firm to submit faecal specimens but without
success. It was not possible, therefore, to establish the cause of this trouble conclusively.
This outbreak is just another indication of the risks involved in adopting reheating procedures in
the preparation of food.
Unless the officers investigating such outbreaks receive the fullest co-operation from everyone
concerned, much of the usefulness of the effort involved is lost.
PIGEON NUISANCE
A firm of pigeon catchers is employed under contract by the City Corporation whose policy
is not to exterminate all pigeons but to control their numbers to such proportions as will ensure
that the pleasure they give to residents and visitors is not out-weighed by the nuisance they cause.
During the year 3,850 pigeons were humanely trapped and killed as compared with 2,100 in
1961.
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