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A broad classification of the cases notified
(excluding those notified from Friern Hospital) during the
year, in relation to their employment, was:
Clerical 4
Housewives 4
Children 1
Professional class 1
Factory workers 6
Manual workers 5
Food trades 2
Nurses 1
Unclassified 2
During the last two weeks of December, Mass X-Ray
Unit No. 5b of the North West Regional Hospital Board paid
another visit to the District. As on previous occasions
the staffs of local factories, shops and other organisations
were invited to attend, as were members of the general public.
Altogether, a total of 2071 persons was X-rayed.
Food poisoning.
Four cases were notified during the year. In two
instances, which occurred in the same household, the causative
agent was an organism of the salmonella group, although the
source of infection was not traced. In the other cases,
neither the causative agent nor the source of infection
could be definitely established, although one was associated
with a small outbreak of food poisoning in an adjoining
district, where a number of employees were ill after a meal
in a canteen.
A small outbreak of sickness affecting three members
of the staff of a school kitchen and the school caretaker
was investigated. With one exception the duration of the
sickness was short, medical attention not being sought.
The most thorough investigation failed to reveal the cause
of the sickness, but there were indications that this was a
food infection and that the food responsible was ham which
had been boiled the previous day and allowed to cool at room
temperature overnight. The circumstances emphasise the
importance of rapid cooling of food cooked and not eaten
immediately, and for its storage at a temperature which will
prevent the multiplication of germs. They also shew that
in many cases of food poisoning sickness may not be so severe
as to require medical attention. As a consequence such
cases are not normally notified. It can be assumed, therefore,
that the number of cases of food poisoning notified does
not accurately reflect the full extent of food infection.
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