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29
The scheme for the more effective control of measles in public elementary schools,
which, as stated in the last report, was reintroduced in a modified form in December,
1927, was continued during the measles epidemic. As explained, leaflets prepared
in the Health Department were handed to the Head Teachers for distribution in the
schools affected.
In addition to the exclusions from school referred to above information was
received from the School Medical Officer that 27 children had been excluded from
school on account of the presence of diphtheria bacilli in their noses or throats.
The families resident in some nineteen houses to which these children belonged
were kept under observation. No cases of diphtheria, however, were subsequently
notified amongst the residents of these houses.
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The London County Council is the authority responsible for the provision of
facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases and special clinics are held in
various voluntary hospitals and in other institutions. None of these are actually
within the boundaries of the Borough, but those of the Metropolitan, the London,
the Royal Free and University College Hospitals, are readily accessible to the people
of Shoreditch. Lists of these centres are displayed in the Public Conveniences in
the Borough and can also be seen in the Health Department.
The London County Council also provides for doctors, laboratory facilities to
aid diagnosis, the supply of salvarsan and its substitutes, and courses of instruction in
modern methods of diagnosis and treatment. The County Council further co-ordinates
the work of hospitals, public health services and practitioners, and undertakes publicity
and propaganda work with regard to matters relating to venereal disease.
FOOD POISONING.
An inquest was held on the 14th February upon a young girl aged 5 years who
died from food poisoning. Death took place in St. Leonard's Hospital after five
days' illness. A post mortem examination was made by Dr. Bronte and bacteriological
and serological examinations were made at the Ministry of Health laboratories.
The father became ill at the same time as the child which fact pointed to a common
source of infection. After careful enquiry concerning the family dietary, it appeared
likely that the child had finished a partly eaten fried duck's egg that the father had
left upon his plate.
The bacteriological report pointed to the conclusion that the same organism was
responsible for both the child's death and the father's illness, the organism in question
being one that might contaminate an egg shell from the filth of a farm yard.
The Coroner expressed the view that in the process of breaking the shell and
frying the duck's egg these organisms had escaped destruction with the result above
stated. He further added that boiling was in his opinion a safer method of cooking
as it ensured the killing of all organisms on the shell.
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