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areas. The No.1 Smoke Control Area at Edgware has been working well and no emission
of smoke has been seen from any chimney there, but residents in Smoke Control Areas
should ensure that their fireplaces are capable of burning coke until the supply of
"premium" fuels is stabilised.
The Council has been interested in pollution by fumes from diesel vehicles and
the attention of owners of offending vehicles has been drawn to this form of pollution.
In almost every instance the owner has sent his thanks for the information and
promised to investigate. Although diesel exhaust fumes are not detrimental to health,
they are obnoxious and a hazard to road safety. The practice of writing to vehicle
owners as a means of reducing pollution aroused considerable interest at a meeting of
the Clean Air Society.
The standards of food hygiene have improved since the introduction of the Clean
Pood Regulations and more foods are packaged, but with all the improvement in food
hygiene in recent years the lack of hand-washing facilities for customers in many
licensed premises is now more obvious.
Food comes from many exotic sources and new possibilities for bacterial contamination
have to be guarded against. During the year the Department was able to
assist the Director of the Colindale Laboratory in an investigation into the contamination
of imported coconut by food poisoning organisms and as a result of the findings
measures were taken in at least one exporting country, Ceylon, to perfect the
cleanliness of the product.
In the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon for 1910 the
disease non-pulmonary tuberculosis was responsible for the death of ten children
between the age of one and five years. This disease was commonly spread by infected
milk until the widespread adoption of pasteurisation made milk safe. One further
step towards the perfection of our milk supply was taken on the 1st March, 1960, with
the final eradication of non-attested herds in England and Wales.
I have included in my Report an extract from the report of the Hendon Old
People's Housing Society and the report of the Chairman of the Borough of Hendon Old
People's Welfare Committee.
I would like to thank the members of the Public Health Committee for their
support and encouragement, and also the members of the staff for their loyal and
conscientious service during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. PATTON,
Medical Officer of Health
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