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The case of Typhoid Fever occurred in a Civil Servant returned
from West Africa. His illness on the voyage was thought to be
Malaria, but the diagnosis was made after his admission to hospital.
On admission he was gravely ill with complications, but made an
uneventful recovery, which was confirmed by the necessary blood tests
for virulence. Another suspected case of typhoid fever in a person
returned from Dacca, Pakistan, was not confirmed by the London
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, to which he was admitted, and where
he was found to have Malaria.
During the year 188 faeces, urine and throat swabs were sent for
examination. Nineteen faeces were sent for a special routine examination
for Bact Coli type 026 to prevent carriers of infantile diarrhoea
entering a Baby Home. Forty-eight faeces were sent in connection
with the diagnosis of dysentery and 61 in connection with food poisoning.
The urine examinations were in connection with a case of typhoid
fever, and the throat swabs were taken in cases of scarlet fever and
glandular fever. Organisms isolated were Bact Coli type 026 (one
case), Salmonella Typhimurium (eight cases of food poisoning, including
a case diagnosed clinically as dysentery), Salmonella Anatum (one
case of food poisoning resistant to Aureomycin), Shigella Sonnei
(three cases of dysentery), Pyocyanea (one case of dysentery), B.
Proteus (one case of dysentery).
All outbreaks of food poisoning were single cases, and in no case
could any special food be incriminated. The human carrier problem
in connection with Salmonella typhimurium was illustrated in one
family in which a child of 6 years was first taken ill. Specimens from
father, mother and two sisters were all negative. The father was taken
ill 19 days later, after the child had recovered, and the same organism
was isolated from the faeces. All other contacts were now negative.
There were eleven fewer cases of tuberculosis, and Dr. Madigan's
Report deals fully with the present position. The Mass Radiography
figures show a decrease in the number of new cases over the past
five years.
Medical Applications for Rehousing.
In November, 1952, this Authority adopted a revised points
scheme on the classification of housing applicants. In the scheme
the additional factors to be taken into account were Bedroom Deficiency,
Shared Accommodation, Lack of Facilities, Lack of Natural Light,
Size of Rooms, Broken Families, General Health, Period of Waiting
List, Special Hardships, War Service, Residence and for War Widow.
These were listed A to L, and for general health points would be
awarded by the Medical Officer of Health.
Infective pulmonary tubercular cases and others requiring urgent
rehousing on medical grounds and diseases and physical disabilities
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