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The yearly figure since 1932 has fallen to a lower standard than we regard as
adequate.
5. CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF FOOD.
The bacteriological examination of all milk, ice-cream and water samples is
carried out for this Authority by the Counties' Public Health Laboratories, of 91,
Queen Victoria Street, London, whilst the examination of samples of milk for the
presence of tubercle is carried out by Dr. S. R. Gloyne, of the Victoria Park
Hospital, Hackney.
6. NUTRITION.
No particular steps have been taken this year to increase the knowledge of the
public, as such, on the subject of nutrition, but the domestic science courses that are
undertaken by the schools in the town are a very happy feature of your educational
system, and must bring forth full return in the near future, because, not only are
the children themselves educated in these important matters, but they spread knowledge
in their own homes.
Without suggesting the work we have done in the pathological laboratory
can in any way be called a special investigation, the work we have done on the
iron content of the blood, particularly in pregnant women, supports the conclusion
of other people, that in many instances there is considerable lack of iron.
I am apprehensive that in most cases the diet is at fault, but I am persuaded
that this is not the whole of the story, and that although I have no evidence on the
point, there must be in some cases an unnecessary and excessive excretion of iron,
thus draining the body of this necessary mineral.
I am anxious that more fresh vegetables and fresh fruit, particularly vegetables
of the salad variety, are put on the market at prices which would tempt people to
make them a regular and substantial part of their diet.
The mere consumption of food, however, is not sufficient to achieve nutrition.
An adequate amount of rest and sleep is necessary for these foods to be built up into
the body proper. Anxiety, too, militates against proper nutrition, and in this
connection it has been brought to my notice that irregular employment, and its
consequent periods of unemployment, is not consistent with healthy nutrition.