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3.
WATER SUPPLIES.
An obvious danger exists when bombing takes place of damage to
water mains by enemy action with a lowering of the pressure and if at
the same time nearby sewers are also damaged, there may be a percolation
into the water mains. This, of course, would be liable to be followed
by outbreaks of gastro-intestinal disorders and possibly by infections
of the typhoid group.
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company
were approached as to the methods they were employing to reduce this
danger to a minimum. These consisted of preventing any water to which
the slightest suspicion was attached from entering supply, sampling at
the time of an incident and in the event of proven damage to any water
main, careful continuous flushing, chlorination and sampling after repair,
before the water was allowed to re-enter supply. In addition pamphlets
were prepared for the information of the public and these, in this
Borough, were distributed through the local wardens Association. The
safeguards adopted by the water Companies are very comprehensive and have
so far proved effective.
IMMUNISATION AGAINST DIPHTHERIA.
This continued to be provided free of charge and further steps were
taken to draw the attention of the public to the desirability of having
their children immunised.
After consideration of Ministry of Health Memorandum 170/Med, the
Council approved (l) the advocating of diphtheria immunisation on the
birthday letters sent to all children attending the Child Welfare Centres
on their first birthday, (2) offering immunisation to all entrants to
public elementary schools, and (3) offering an additional dose of
prophylactic agent to children entering school if primary immunisation
had been carried out in early infancy.
^he figures for immunisation are set out in the following Table:-
Successfully immunised 592
No. under treatment 319
If one may be permitted to anticipate at this stage, the year 1941
saw a marked increase in immunisation due largely, I believe, to B. B. C.