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means that many such cases were never seen by a doctor, or that
the illness was of so trivial a character that notification was not
made.
During the year, an interesting outbreak of food poisoning
occurred in one of our school canteens. This outbreak (at
Minchenden School) involved some 150 children and staff, and was
found to be due to salt beef served as the main dish at the school
lunch on 21st October, 1948. The outbreak was traced to the
manner in which the food had been cooked, with particular
reference to the method of storage and cooling during the night
prior to the outbreak. None of the children or staff affected was
seriously ill, but the epidemic showed the dangers which can exist
even in a well-ordered canteen.
Further reference will be made in Appendix 3 to this Report
to the steps taken by the Borough Council during the year to
improve food hygiene throughout the Borough.
Immunisation. —The work of immunisation was continued
during 1948 along very much the same lines as held in previous
years. Opportunity was, however, taken to extend the scheme,
particularly in relation to the arrangements for supplying reinforcing-doses
of immunising material against diphtheria. Very
briefly, our procedure at 5th July, 1948, was as follows:
(a) An immunisation clinic was held in Broomfield House
each Thursday afternoon. Children were immunised at this
clinic against diphtheria alone or against diphtheria and
pertussis combined. All parents with children aged six
months received a card on which the advantages of immunisation
were clearly set out. An invitation was extended to
bring the child to the clinic for immunisation as soon as
possible after the age of nine months. When the child
reached the age of twelve months, a further letter was sent,
with a birthday greeting card. This letter took various forms,
depending on whether or not the child's immunisation had
already been commenced. Emphasis was also laid on the
fact that immunisation could be obtained from the family
doctor.
(b) Our methods of immunisation followed the modern
technique and were, I believe, as effective and fool-proof as
practical precautions could guarantee. We employed a
doctor, a health visitor and a clerk at the weekly clinic,
while the clerical work entailed by the scheme called for still
further clerical assistance. Having regard to the results
obtained, I am satisfied that the system was both sound and
economical.
(c) All maintained and most of the private schools in the
Borough were visited during the year for the purpose of
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