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87
thorough overhaul, the possibility exists that any other developing
defect would be noted.
As this is an entirely new service, 1 have dilated upon it at
fairly great length and personally feel that it has been well worth
the trouble involved and that the results so far obtained, if not
spectacular, will be to the future advantage of some, at least, of the
children of Bromley.
The year 1955 will surely go down in history as having a
memorable summer with its prolonged heat and absence of rain, but
as often happens on such occasions, an extensive epidemic of
infantile paralysis affected the country. In Bromley, we were
comparatively fortunate especially as regards the school children,
for out of a total number of fourteen confirmed notifications received
during the year, only six referred to children of school age. Of
these cases, three were paralytic, including two of the Bulbar type,
and three were non-paralytic.
In the present state of our knowledge, I feel that it is proper
for me to give as much publicity as possible to the fact that personal
cleanliness is probably the greatest single factor in preventing the
spread of this disease, and that particular emphasis should be laid
on the importance of thorough washing of the hands. This is, of
course, at all times very important, especially prior to the preparation
of food, but in my opinion is doubly so when we are in the midst
of an epidemic of a disease which so naturally gives rise to so much
public alarm. Hand washing is a simple operation which can be
so easily forgotten, but what tragedies that forgetfulness can beget.
I have dealt at some length with a few of the activities of the
school health service, but there are many other valuable routine
services proceeding daily, notes on which will be found in the body
of this report. Taking the year as a whole, I feel justified in regarding
it as one of expansion and progress, and I am glad to be able
to thank each and every member of the staff for his or her contribution
to this successful outcome. In conclusion, I should like to
thank the Borough Education Officer for a year of happy collaboration,
and the members of the Welfare Committee for their continued
encouragement and interest in what I think is generally agreed to
be a very rewarding task.
H. B. C. CARTER-LOCKE.
Medical Officer of Health.