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49
It should be realised that the praetical danger of a Typhoid
" carrier " generally arises in instances where they don't regard themselves
as being dangerous at all and fail to adapt themselves to the
situation in which, through no fault of their own, they are placed.
If—as I am sure obtains in the case I have noted above- the realities
of the position are understood, then the observance of unremitting care
and attention to detail should go far to avoid any unfortunate consequences.
This case is clearly interesting because of the length of time which
elapsed between the original infection of the mother and the development
of the disease by the daughter. Lengthy intervals have of course
been known, but even so the time which elapsed is noteworthy.

Food Poisoning-.
No outbreak of importance occurred during the year. Necessarily
from time to time isolated instances are reported of illness attributed to
food but it is commonly extremely difficult to secure any proof as, for
example, by the recovery of a food poisoning organism from the patient
or from the suspected food, or both. It cannot be over-emphasized that
our chances of securing the fullest information from any investigation
are in direct ratio to the speed with which the case is brought to our
notice. If, for example, we don't hear of cases until a matter of days
has elapsed, then our chances of securing any of the suspected food are
negligible, and without something concrete to go upon our final views
on any outbreak can never become more than suspicions. Speedy
notification of suspected food poisoning is therefore of the utmost
importance.
The following is a copy of the Annual Return of Food Poisoning
notifications for the year 1954 which is sent to the Ministry of Health
in accordance with statutory requirements :
188
Appendix D (i) to Ministry of Health Memo Med. (Revised
1949)—FOOD POISONING (Corrected).