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ix.
During the year 261 samples of milk were examined and the
standard was maintained in a very satisfactory way. Ice-cream
has been carefully watched. This trade has increased very
greatly since the war and all the participants therein do not maintain
a satisfactory standard of cleanliness. On May 1st, the
Ministry of Health issued, somewhat tardily, a provisional
standard in accord with a grading system. The gradings were
arrived at by the methylane blue method. Of a total of 155
samples, 44 per cent. (69) failed to reach a satisfactory standard
of bacterial purity. Most unfortunately, there are no chemical
standards for ice-cream, and although ice-creams manufactured
by the large wholesale makers have a considerable nutritive
value, some of those manufactured from made-up powders, or by
small dealers, have little nutritive properties.
Under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the sanitary inspectors
took 659 samples, of which 249 were of milk. Of the latter
samples 5 were not genuine, but otherwise the average composition
of the milk samples was well above the legal minimum. Of
the other non-genuine samples, 3 were of vinegar, 2 whisky, 1
gin, 2 sherbet, and various other commodities (see page 140).
On the school medical side of the work, there was a small
drop in the number of children examined at routine medical
inspections. The general average standard of nutrition and
growth seems to have been maintained, and on the whole there
has been less uncleanliness among school children. Verminous
conditions accounted for 13.85 per cent, of the total exclusions,
as compared with 22.13 per cent, in 1946. On the other hand,
there was a higher incidence of the common infectious diseases,
especially mumps, which accounted for 22.15 per cent, of
exclusions, and measles, which caused 21.15 per cent, of the
exclusions.
Attendances at the Minor Ailments Clinics were higher than
in 1946; 3,295 cases with 16,049 attendances as compared with
2,846 cases and 13,477 attendances in 1946.
In the section dealing with the school dental service, an
opportunity has been taken of making a forecast, in the light of
educational developments, and of the rapidly increasing population,
of the requirements in the way of clinics and dental staff,
which should come about within the next 3 years. It has been
estimated that at least 3 and possibly 4 additional branch clinics