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26
food traders at which a short talk was given on the hygienic aspects
of food production and distribution. The Chairman of the Public
Health Committee normally opened the meeting, the Medical
Officer of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector spoke briefly on
their work and notably on the byelaws. Full opportunity was given
for questions on any aspect of the subject and finally a short film
"Another Case of Food Poisoning" was shown to the meeting. It
was found that the attendances in general were disappointing,
although the persons attending showed a considerable interest in the
subject.
Public opinion is undoubtedly taking more interest in matters
of food hygiene and is increasingly coming to expect higher standards
of practice. This is a most desirable happening since in the
ultimate the dictators of food hygiene practice are the consumers
themselves and without their support our efforts can never achieve
complete fulfilment.
Our Sanitary Inspectors are devoting a steady attention
towards food establishments and it is our intention to see that
reasonable observance is paid to the latest byelaws. It requires but
a cursory awareness of the practices existing in many shops to be
convinced that far too much unnecessary handling of food is carried
out. Similarly too much food is left exposed and liable to contamination
by flies and the like. The reason for this lies largely
in tradition and a disinclination natural to all of us to change.
It is perhaps too much to expect that the habits of years can be
changed in days but it is equally too little to expect that they
should not be changed at all.
Soap and water provide the best barrier between the convenience
and the consumer—a clear recognition of this fact being
the best safeguard for the customer.
School Canteens.
Our Sanitary Inspectors continue to provide detailed reports
upon the conditions obtaining at all the local school canteens and
where any improvements are considered desirable they are brought
to the notice of the local Education Authority. I have no doubt
but that this information service readily secured by the local Sanitary
Authority staff in the course of their normal district work, is
of paramount importance and provides a very adequate alternative
to the carrying out of the same work by other staff.
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
DISEASE
Scarlet Fever.
The number of cases dropped from 211 to 183 and of these 29
were admitted to hospital. It must again be emphasized that unless
in the presence of complications, hospitalisation is not the course