View report page

17
Impetigo.—Forty-five boys and 22 girls received treatment for this condition at the Cleansing Station.
Venereal Diseases.—Continued assistance was given to the propaganda campaign for drawing public
attention to the dangers of these conditions and to the adequate facilities which exist for those in need
of treatment.
Under the grant received by the Central Council for Health Education from the London County
Council, twenty-four talks on sex education were given at various youth centres in the Borough,
and films were shown at the Lisson Grove Welfare Centre.
Blood specimens from patients attending the Council's ante-natal clinics continued to be submitted,
as a routine measure, to a group laboratory of the London County Council for the Wassermann reaction
and Kahn test.
Insulin.—Supplies of insuhn for the poorer inhabitants suffering from diabetes were provided free of
cost by the Council in five cases, under the authority of Ministry of Health Circular 2734, dated 4th
January, 1943.
Food Poisoning.—Fifty-six cases of food poisoning, which is notifiable in the Borough, were reported.
A mild outbreak occurred in February amongst the staff of a large organisation in the Borough.
Fifty-five cases were notified but several more of the staff had some degree of diarrhoea. All the
persons attacked had had lunch at the canteen. The cookhouse staff and others dining elsewhere
on the premises, although they ate similar food, were not affected. The attack consisted of a severe
diarrhoea; there was no vomiting, and all cases cleared up within 24 hours. Foods eaten at lunch
were examined by the Council's Bacteriologist. They included stewed figs, meat pudding, potato
flour, flour, egg powder, dried split peas, baking powder and salt. No evidence of bacterial infection
with food poisoning organisms could be found. Specimens of faeces from twelve members of the
kitchen staff were also examined with negative results. Upon investigation it was discovered that a
similar slight outbreak of diarrhoea had occurred two weeks before, and that samples of milk, water,
yeast and bouillon powder which had been taken previously and examined by the Bacteriologist
were found to be satisfactory with the exception of one of the samples of milk which was found to be
heavily infected with B. coli. A thorough inspection of the milk receptacles at the canteen counter
was then made. Three old type dairyman's handcans were in use, one of which had about 2 ozs. of
milk in the bottom and was in a dirty and greasy condition. In the course of discussion the assistant
canteen manager stated that recently a quantity of milk had gone sour. The Bacteriologist subsequently
reported:—" I have little doubt that the outbreaks were due to heavy contamination of the
milk with B. coli while in the canteen, and that the contamination was perpetrated by imperfect cleansing
and sterilization of the milk cans used in the canteen. The milk as received in the stores from the
milk supplier appears above reproach." Instructions were issued to ensure that milk cans were
regularly cleansed, scalded and washed with strong soda before use, and a new type of white enamelled
receptacle with separate dipper was brought into use. No further cases were reported.
In the remaining notified case, fish was the suspected article but bacteriological investigation failed
to reveal the presence of food poisoning organisms.
On a report that "galantine" or "haslet" or "liver sausage" purchased from a shop in the Borough
during the warm weather in May had caused poisoning among residents of neighbouring districts,
arrangements were made for the immediate withdrawal of the product from sale. A sample examined
by the Bacteriologist revealed the presence of organisms (staphylococcus aureus) likely to cause food
poisoning. It was ascertained that large quantities of the same batch had been sent out from the
place of manufacture in the provinces for sale by retailers in widely separated parts of the country and
had given rise to numerous cases of food poisoning. The makers withdrew unsold supplies and the
full circumstances were reported to the Ministry of Health. A subsequent statement (with recommendations)
on an exhaustive investigation carried out by the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale,
London, N.W.9, expressed the view that the "glaze" or fatty layer between the meat and its outer
cellophane wrapping had probably been infected during the process of preparation by an employee
harbouring the type of staphylococcus liable to be carried in the nose of healthy persons and to be
readily transferred to the hands either directly or through the medium of a contaminated handkerchief.
There was no evidence of any St. Marylebone resident being affected by the outbreak.
After a brief attack of vomiting in a small group of children, samples of lemonade and ice cream of
which they had partaken were examined bacteriologically and found to be free from pathological
organisms. The possibihty of the sickness having been caused by metallic contamination was
investigated, also with negative results.
Specimens of cooked meat and lard suspected of carrying food poisoning organisms were submitted
to bacteriological examination but the presence of such organisms was not confirmed.