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52
86 new cases were added to the register, 4 cases were noted
after death, and there were 22 inward transfers to the area.
100 cases were deleted from the register on account of
death, removals, recoveries, etc., leaving a net figure on the
register of 708, a decrease of 12 over the total for 1948. The
number of new cases notified showed an increase of 13 over the
previous year.
The Ministry of Health has now decided to try out B.C.G.
vaccination on selected groups of volunteers, and we must hope
the results will justify the expectations placed in this form of
prophylaxis. The groups selected are nurses and medical
students, and, in addition, appropriate specialists will be allowed
to use the vaccine at their own discretion such as in suitable
cases of home contacts of a case of open tuberculosis.
The reason, of course, for choosing such groups as nurses and
medical students is that they are particularly exposed to the
risk of infection from tuberculosis, and in the majority of cases
are of an age which is peculiarly liable to this infection.
Continental workers have been using this form of prophylaxis
over a number of years and are enthusiastic about its
efficiency, but one must not think that because a person is
vaccinated against tuberculosis and does not develop the disease,
he or she would necessarily have had it in any case.
PUBLIC HEALTH (PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS)
REGULATIONS, 1925. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1936
(SECTION 172).
It was not found necessary to take any action under these
Regulations and Section of the Public Health Act during the
year.
FOOD POISONING.
There were twelve cases of Food Poisoning notified by
medical practitioners during the year. Of these, five were
isolated cases and it was not possible for various reasons to carry
out investigations into the cause of the illness. One case notified
was that of a person residing in the area who had attended a
dinner in London, after which many cases had been brought to
the attention of the Authority concerned and they had made the
necessary investigations.
Five persons in one family were reported to be suffering
from Food Poisoning, and, after full investigation and analysis
of various specimens, etc., had been made, the source of the
original infection was traced to Duck Eggs which had been eaten
by the persons concerned.