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elicited the fact that the food for the party had been prepared in three places, namely (1) on the premises
where the party was held, where some chickens had been cooked and sandwiches prepared, (2) a
bakery in another district where vol-au-vent of chicken and pineapple had been prepared and
(3) a second bakery outside St. Marylebone where sausage rolls and pastries, etc., had been made.
Investigations were made at each of these premises but unfortunately, other than a few items from
bulk supply, all of which were satisfactory, none of the suspected food remained for bacteriological
examination. In the absence of direct evidence from food left over, indication of the source of infection
had to be sought from statistics obtained from an analysis of the replies to the questionnaire.
Sixty-eight such replies were received and these gave information regarding 199 persons who were
ill and 77 who showed no symptoms of illness. Of the former, 101 (50 per cent.) were reported to have
the organism salmonella typhi-murium in their stools and the Enteric Reference Library at Colindale
typed organisms recovered from between 40 and 50 of these patients. In every case they were found
to be the same, namely phage type 2C. Of the various items on the menu consumed by the guests
of whom there were records with the exception of chicken and pineapple vol-au-vent, statistical
evidence points to no item as suspect. Of the 199 people who were ill, however, 169 (85 per cent.)
stated that they remember eating the vol-au-vent, whereas of 77 who were not ill only 6 (8 per cent.)
stated that they had eaten this particular item. It was found that the chickens used in the vol-au-vent
had come from East Anglia and those for the sandwiches from Berkshire. Since it is known that
salmonella typhi murium infection is not uncommon among chickens enquiries were made of the
veterinary authorities in both of these districts. Although it was not possible to establish with
certainty the identity of the actual farms from which the birds had come it was reported from East
Anglia that organisms of the particular phage type associated with this outbreak of food poisoning,
namely phage type 2C, had been found in six out of nine recent " isolations " in that area. This phage
type was stated not to have been met with in Berkshire.
Stools from the food handlers at the premises where the party was held and the bakery where
the vol-au-vent were prepared on examination produced no pathogenic organisms of any kind and
the Medical Officer of Health of the district in which the second bakery was situated stated that no
member of the staff connected with food handling had been ill.
Impetigo.
No cases of impetigo were referred to the Cleansing Station for treatment during the year.
Scabies.
The Council's Cleansing Station in Lisson Grove dealt with 42 cases of scabies : adults 41 (men 18,
women 23) ; children 1 (boy).
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.
Disinfection.
During the year 81 rooms and 633 articles of bedding (mattresses, blankets, sheets, bolsters,
pillows, etc.), and 397 books, were disinfected.
The Department continued to be asked by residents in the Borough to certify that worn clothing
intended for despatch to foreign countries was free from infection. Disinfection was carried out only
when clothing had actually been in contact with infectious disease but, during the year, 156 certificates,
relating to a total of 1,868 articles, were issued to indicate that no infectious disease had been reported
for at least one month at the premises from which the clothing was purported to have come.
Exclusion from Work of Contacts of Infectious Disease.
Both by Regulations made under the National Insurance Act, 1946, and the Public Health
Disease Regulations, 1953, persons may be excluded from work and qualify for National Health
sickness benefit if, in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health, they are contacts or carriers of
disease and it is necessary to exclude them from work in order to prevent the spread of infection.
These regulations apply particularly to food handlers in shops and to cooks, kitchen hands and others
employed in cafes, canteens and restaurants. During the year five certificates were issued.