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noted elsewhere in this Report, we are also planning to offer a
reinforcing dose of pertussis and diphtheria combined antigen to
those children commencing school who were originally immunised
with this material.
It is extremely doubtful whether immunisation against
pertussis in a district such as Southgate can have any appreciable
effect upon the population as a whole, so long as surrounding areas
do not adopt the same policy, and so long as there is the degree
of inter-communication between urbanised communities which
exists today. None the less, I am convinced that our policy is
sound, and that even although we cannot expect any spectacular
drop in pertussis notifications, individual children will be protected.
We must still look forward to the day when, as in certain western
countries, pertussis is almost as rare as diphtheria. When one
remembers that pertussis is possibly the most serious infectious
illness among infants, its abolition and ultimate disappearance
from the infective scene is greatly to be desired.
Food Poisoning
Only five cases of food poisoning, as against 16 in 1951 and
22 in 1950, were reported in 1952. If one includes the number of
dysentery cases reported during 1952 (17), this still gives a total of
only 22 cases, as against a total (Sonne dysentery and food poisoning)
of 73 cases during 1951. From these figures it would appear
at least on the surface, that food poisoning is on the decline in
Southgate. This would be a wholly inaccurate assumption.
It still remains a fact that the majority of cases of food poisoning
do not seem to be notified; indeed, one comes to the conclusion
that a great many cases of food poisoning are never seen by a
doctor. This also, of course, applies to Sonne dysentery, at least
so far as that disease occurs in children.
It would certainly be true to say that 1952 was a very peaceful
and uneventful year so far as food poisoning, in any shape or
form, was concerned. No outbreaks occurred, while, so far as we
are aware, the type of individual cases was extremely mild on the
whole. This is satisfactory but must on no account encourage us
to slacken our efforts in regard to food hygiene.
As I write this report, we know that Sonne dysentery has
appeared in several parts of the district in the form of limited
outbreaks. We also know that quite a number of cases of food
poisoning, mostly of the Salmonella type, have been reported,
either associated with Sonne dysentery or as an entirely separate
factor. Indeed, the prevalence of gastro-intestinal disorders has
influenced me to prepare a detailed report on the subject, which
should be ready for presentation to the Public Health Committee
during 1953. The object of the report is to present the facts to the
Public Health Committee, so far as they can be ascertained, and
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