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the " atomic deterrent." The addition of these radiations
to those occurring, naturally, from certain heavy elements
in the earth's crust and from cosmic rays reaching us from
outer space may one day, and before long, induce a level
of radioactivity in our surroundings harmful to the maintenance
of health and, by causing undesirable genetic mutations,
constitute a threat to future generations. Indeed, one
can forsee the time when the Geiger counter will become
as important a piece of public health equipment as the
sampling bottle or deposit gauge is today.
During the year steady progress was made in regard
to the implementation of the Food Hygiene Regulations,
1955. Much work and constant vigilance is necessary to
ensure that satisfactory standards of production and handling
of food are not only achieved but, also, maintained. Even
when cleanliness, repair of food premises, the supply of
wash hand basins, hot and cold water and facilities for
washing food and equipment are of a satisfactory standard,
real cleanliness depends, ultimately, on the acceptance by
food handlers, both management and staff, of a personal
responsibility to the public; and we cannot say that this is
invariably the case. During the year 2779 inspections of
food and food preparing premises were carried out by the
Public Health Inspectors and improvements were carried
out or defects remedied under the Regulations at 93 premises.
Twelve premises were dealt with for infestations by
rats and mice.
During the year the Housing Act, 1957 and the Rent
Act, 1957 came into operation. The former was largely a
consolidating Act, while the latter, in that it aimed, among
other things, at the preservation of the structure of existing
houses, placed a good deal of extra work on the Chief
Public Health Inspector and his colleagues, particularly
in connection with certificates of disrepair.
Steady progress has been made during the year in the
clearance of unfit houses within the framework of the five
year plan submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government in 1955.
The work of the Bexley, Erith and Crayford Home
Safety Committee continued during the year, with steady
propaganda in the interests of the reduction of accidents
in the home, chiefly through falls and burns and scalds.
Officially this responsibility lies with the Local Health
Authority under Section 28 of the National Health Service
Act, 1948. In practice, the local voluntary committee, closely
linked with the district Health Department and the local
Council is in a far better strategic position to increase the
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