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imagine that the impact upon the general immunisation arrangements
would have been significant nor that the public would have been anything
but appreciative that due recognition should have been given to these
staffs for the essential part which they still play in preventive medicine.
These Inspectors carry out what is at times quite a difficult job
conscientiously and with a high degree of efficiency. It is a pity that
what I regard as bare justice should not have been done to their role
in the matter of affording the maximum protection against the hazards
to which they are in some degree exposed. I don't think that the matter
should be judged on a basis of how many Inspectors happen to have
taken poliomyelitis as this argument would not be necessarily conclusive.
Food Poisoning.
In 19 out of 22 notified cases no causative organism was ascertained.
This illustrates the complexity of dealing with this matter as a precise
problem. Although certain cases may come to light late many are
brought to our notice as suspects and at a stage when full investigation
is possible. No serious outbreak was involved and the character of the
disease was one of relatively isolated attack. The fact that no organism
was found to cause the illness does not invalidate the supposition that
certain of the cases may well have been rightly considered—after
investigation—as having an origin in food.
Typhoid Fever.
One case notified occurred after a holiday abroad. It was not
seemingly very exceptional as others in the same party had been ill.
It is interesting to speculate on the results were a majority of cases
of gastro-enteritis among returned Continental holiday makers to be
investigated bacteriologically. As it is some form of upset is frequently
accepted as normal and dietetic in origin—and maybe it is less, disturbing
to leave it at that.
Psittacosis.
A suspected avian case was brought to my notice (having occurred
in another district). No positive findings were elicited either to cause
or confirm the case and no human cases are known to have occurred.
Unless there is some legal requirement which demands that records
of avian purchases are maintained by the dealer and available to us,
it is well nigh impossible to make anything of source investigation.
That apart, of course, detailed investigation of avians or humans is
a lengthy process and the very variable incubation period, the possible
'carrier' state in birds, the variety of birds which may be affected, all
conspire to embarrass control measures. Whether notification of the
disease or renewed legislation on bird importation should be invoked,
is a matter for argument.