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when it will be possible to present conclusive evidence of the
efficacy or otherwise of the vaccines used. The Medical Research
Council—who are running this investigation in collaboration with
the Medical Officer of Health—have been greatly encouraged in
this new method of approach to problems of preventive medicine
by the interest and co-operation of the parents in Wembley, who
are themselves active collaborators in the investigation, and
already that collaboration has led to increased knowledge of the
mode of spread and of methods of early diagnosis.
6. DAY NURSERIES. The incidence of the infectious
diseases is again tabulated. Our individual experience in the
Borough, of course, is still too limited for general conclusions, but
it has been only in measles that one has felt the introduction of a
case of infection gives grounds for fear of much spread. The
monthly incidence of the infections tabulated in the Appendix
indicates the absence of epidemic spread in any of the Nurseries.
7. FOOD POISONING. Only 6 cases of food poisoning
were notified but food poisoning has shown some general increase
in the last few years. This may be due to more communal feeding,
to difficulties in maintaining the highest standards in personal
hygiene and in the processing of food products. The
intimate association between the Central Public Health Laboratory
at Colindale and the Public Health Department should assist in
solving some of the food poisoning problems and helping in their
prevention, but co-operation at every angle is necessary. Information
should be given at the earliest possible time, samples of
relevantly suspected food should be preserved and submitted for
examination, and even then it is not always possible to ascertain
the cause.
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