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Certain samples were reported by the Public Analyst to be "inferior"
by reason of the fact that labelling requirements were not fully met. In
these cases, the Analyst dealt direct with the manufacturers with
satisfactory results.
Legal proceedings instituted against the Vendors of a loaf of bread
(not manufactured locally) contaminated with rodent excrement resulted
in the firm being fined £5 with £2 2s. Od. costs.
There were other instances of minor contamination of food, in which
the Public Health Committee decided that the circumstances could be
met by letters of warning being sent to the Vendors.
Ice Cream Sampling.
Twenty-one samples of Ice Cream were examined during the year.
No pathogenic organisms were isolated from the samples. Two of the
samples proved to be unsatisfactory in that they showed a degree of
contamination. This does not mean that the ice cream was unfit for
consumption, but rather is an indication that all possible care in the
use of sterile equipment had not been taken. The receipt of such a
result brings about a very close check on the manufacturer's premises,
and further sampling until a satisfactory result is obtained.
Disinfection.
The Council undertakes, free of charge, the disinfection of rooms,
articles of clothing and bedding, after cases of Tuberculosis and occasionally,
other Infectious Diseases. Many requests are received from
residents for the steam disinfection of bedding, etc., after cases of
illness other than infectious disease. The requests are met but a charge
is made for the service. During 1954, 45 applications were received
and accounts rendered for £45 3s. Od.
During the year, 156 Library books were collected from homes
where infectious disease had occurred, disinfected and returned to the
Library of origin.
School Sanitation.
Following Committee discussion regarding sanitary accommodation
in Schools, I was instructed to prepare a written report for submission
to the Public Health Committee.
This report had many repercussions, and perhaps the value of the
one which really mattered was overlooked, but the resulting cleaner
school lavatories cannot be other than satisfying to a Public Health
Official as a factual demonstration of improvement in the field of
environmental hygiene.
Drainage.
As will be seen from the Table of nuisances remedied, 243 instances
of choked drains were discovered during the year. A great many of
these chokages related to public sewers, i.e. drains receiving wastes of
two or more houses.
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