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purity of food and drugs and registration of certain food
premises. Premises used for sale, preparation or storage
of ice-cream, sausages or potted, pickled or preserved
food are controlled by registration, and byelaws may be
made with respect to the observance of hygienic practices
in the handling, wrapping and delivery of food and
the sale of food in the open air. The Act also provides
for the notification of food poisoning by medical practitioners.
It must therefore be regarded as an Act which
strengthens the supervision and control of foodstuff's and
which in normal times will go far to securing and maintaining
a higher standard of purity of food for the public.
An interesting outbreak of food poisoning occurred at
Hayes in November, the cause being traced to a Staphylococcus
Aureus in a tin of condensed milk. The attack
was sudden in onset and symptoms very severe, affecting
38 persons of adult age. There were no fatalities. The
bacteriological investigations were skilfully undertaken
by Dr. E. R. Jones of the County Laboratory at Maidstone,
and Dr. J. C. Colbeck of the Emergency Public
Health Laboratory at Downe. Their investigations have
been filed for reference as such outbreaks of food poisoning
from Staphylococcus Aureus are rare.
Measles and whooping cough were made compulsorily
notifiable in November, 1939.
This Report was ready for publication in July, but
the final printing could not be completed as receipt of
the Annual Statistics from the General Register Office
was unavoidably delayed until October. It was thought
wise to wait for the official figures.
I am,
Madam Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
K. E. TAPPER,
July, 1940. Medical Officer of Health.