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CHAPTER III.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
1. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. The Diseases of
Animals Act of 1950, is administered by the County Council within
the area of the Borough, and therefore when an outbreak of Foot
and Mouth Disease occurred amongst cattle grazing on Hill Farm,
Kingsbury, the notification of infection was given to that Authority.
A Ministry of Agriculture officer, on visiting, confirmed the outbreak
and ordered the slaughter of all cattle on the farm, followed by any
necessary disinfection of the farm premises. The normal method of
disposal of carcases in such circumstances is by burning or incineration,
and permission to undertake this method of disposal was sought
of the Health Department. On enquiry we were informed that 29
carcases were to be destroyed ; they would be soaked with some combustible
oil and allowed to burn, and that the conflagration could be
expected to continue for some seven to ten days.
On learning the full circumstances, the Minister's Inspector at
Hill Farm was advised that in an urban area this form of disposal
could not be tolerated and must not occur. On account of the
expense involved by other methods, this ruling was accepted with
some reluctance, but ultimately a bulldozer was commissioned to
excavate a large trench, wherein the carcases were deposited, treated
with quick-lime and buried to a depth prescribed by the Inspector.
This extra expenditure and difficulty was thought to be justified in
view of the nuisance which undoubtedly would have been created had
the carcases been incinerated on the site.
2. FOOD POISONING. The total of cases notified during
the year was 4, but none of these was from outbreaks. It is certain
that many sporadic cases occur which are not notified but equally
probable that all major incidents are discovered and investigated.
3. INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF IMMUNISATION.
The Department continues to authenticate the International
Certificates of Vaccination for travellers who have received inoculations
from Wembley practitioners.
During the year 1,084 certificates received attention in the
Department.
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