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Infection had been acquired while on a touring holiday so that no
further information as to source was obtainable. The patient recovered
and on notification of discharge from hospital, arrangements were made
with her medical practitioner so that she would take from her patient,
further specimens for examination and final clearance.
Of other intestinal diseases there were 21 cases of Dysentery of
which 6 occurred in children of school age. 12 of all such notifications
received occurred in the practice of one doctor, and this probably
indicated a localised epidemic in his area. All but one of these cases
were reported during the last two weeks of January.
There is a certain incompleteness in the notifications of dysentery
which must lead to caution in reporting on the incidence of this disease.
The same caution must also apply to reports of food poisoning. It is
when reports are especially asked for that the Medical Officer of Health
hopes to obtain records of all the slight cases that must occur from time
to time in his district.
It is not always possible to confirm the illness, and assistance in the
examination of specimens, which is readily given, only partially helps
the Medical Officer to keep a finger on the pulse of the situation. More
general approach to his Department for advice on disinfection would
be of great assistance in limiting the development of outbreaks of these
diseases.
Serious cases of food poisoning often occur when the food is not
obviously bad. Salmonella typhi-murium infection which occurs in
animals, poultry, humans and rodents, was found in three cases. Out of
11 cases of notified food poisoning, 4 were admitted to hospital. In 6
cases no particular food was suspect; in the remaining 5 cases the foods
were tinned salmon, kippers and eggs, chopped ham, marshmallows,
and salt beef.
During the past year, Influenza has been changing in its character
and attacks have become milder, more often associated with sickness
and diarrhoea, and often tending to affect children more than adults.
Laboratory facilities seem rarely used for the identification of viruses;
this is probably because no specific medicine has yet been found for a
particular virus and because illness is so short in duration.
For all illness or injury, morbidity figures are received each week,
hut the overlapping of districts inevitably minimises the value of these
figures for assessing at any time the incidence of minor illness. The
most reliable information is obtained from medical colleagues but must
be sought.
The Mass Radiography Units were unable to visit Beckenham in
1953 but visits are planned for next autumn. I do not think the absence
of the visits was responsible for the decrease in cases referred for
investigation, but the admission of many more cases for short-term
treatment means the discovery of earlier illness, and is a most satisfactory
feature in an encouraging report.
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