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inspectors and the ease with which the first area of 1,000 houses in the Marks Gate estate
came into operation on the first of September, 1959, is a tribute to their work.
Following a number of unsatisfactory results from bacteriological tests carried out
on ice cream and ice lollies, an interview with the manufacturers involved by the Public
Health Committee showed their concern over this important problem. This produced
some improvement and in view of this further consideration was deferred for six months.
A watchful eye is being kept on these commodities and frequent samples taken.
The outbreak of dysentery at Rush Green School, part of a community outbreak,
found Dagenham no exception to the general trend of this disease throughout the country
during 1959. Following much intensive work in which the school nurses, health visitors
and public health inspectors co-operated, there was a rapid reduction in the number of
cases.
An interesting account of a troublesome outbreak of food poisoning due to Clostridium
welchii (a fairly new cause of this condition) is reported in the body of the report.
Although it is not possible to eliminate the organism from the meat as it is present when
the meat is purchased, and not detectable by ordinary methods, precautions were taken
in an effort to prevent further infection of this type.
It is always sad to say goodbye to staff who have worked with us but to those who
have left this year I would say, "thank you," and hope that their retirement or new work
will be happy and satisfying, and I would welcome the new staff who have been appointed
during the year. The work of the Health Department depends largely on the continuity
of staff and this is perhaps a good opportunity to add a word of appreciation to those
who have been with us for many years and without whose continuing interest and enthusiasm
the wrork reported this year would not have been so successful.
J. Adrian Gillet,
Medical Officer of Health.
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