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32
Ice Cream.
Section 91 of the Dagenham Act, 1931, calls for the registration
of ice cream manufacturers and premises. During the year
there were two premises registered. Before the operation of this
Act, a notice under Section 72 of the Public Health Act, 1925, was
served to discontinue the manufacture of ice cream in unsuitable
premises.
Shops.
525 visits were paid to shops at which foodstuffs were sold.
Food Poisoning.
Section 105 (1) of the Dagenham Urban District Council Act,
1931, reads : " Every medical practitioner attending on a person
who is or is suspected to be suffering from food poisoning, shall
forthwith, on becoming aware that such person is or is suspected
to be so suffering, send to the Medical Officer a notification of tin
case, stating the name of such person and the place at which such
person is."
Notice was given of the effect of the Act in July, 1931, since
when 27 notifications have been received.
In few cases did a diagnosis of food poisoning seem justifiable,
many of the patients suffering from alimentary disorders which were
apparently due to some pathological condition. In those cases
where some food partaken seemed to be the cause of the disturbance,
effective action could rarely be taken as in most instances the food
had been purchased outside the district. While notification ot this
condition is justifiably called for, it appears, at least in a distric
of this nature where little food is prepared or manufactured, that
little good will accrue in most cases until notification is called to
in all areas; in such case a number of complaints would then
possibly be traced to the source. As an instance may be given an
attack of food poisoning apparently attributable to oysters which
were purchased and consumed in another area. The medical
Officer of Health of that area was communicated with, but in
default of information being received in respect of persons ot
areas suffering, it could not be definitely proved that the oysters
consumed were the cause.
Two persons of separate households consumed a pork Pie and
suffered from an apparently true attack ; sausages were apparently
responsible for an attack of four members of a family, and or
another occasion, two members of a family. Han and crab each
seemed to be the cause of two members of a family suffering in each
case ; a meat pie and cheese were supposed to be the cause
case each.