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60
Food Poisoning.
By Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932,
the duty is imposed upon medical practitioners of notifying cases of food
poisoning, and of suspected food poisoning.
A letter was sent to the medical practitioners in the Borough on 13th
September, informing them of the provisions of this section, and between this
date and the end of the year 19 notifications were received. Of these, two related
to suspected food poisoning. The number of visits paid by the Sanitary
Inspectors in connection with these notifications was 38.
In none of the cases did it appear upon investigation that the illness was
due to contamination or unwholesomeness of food.
It is to be expected that at the outset notifications under this section will
include a high proportion of cases of digestive disturbance and of idiosyncrasy
and intolerence towards certain articles of diet.
All notifications are reported to the County Medical Officer of Health
who circulates the information obtained to the Metropolitan Borough Health
Departments. Useful machinery lias thus been set up which should
prove of real service in the control of disease caused by unsound food or by
food containing poisonous substances.
Nutrition.
The poverty and unemployment that have been so prevalent in the
Borough during the year here considered (see tables, page 7) naturally make
one ask oneself to what extent the health of the inhabitants has suffered
through impaired nutrition.
There is, happily, no evidence of serious or widespread ill-health from
this cause. On the other hand, there can be no doubt that a large number of
families have so little money available for buying food that it must be impossible
for even the most skilful housewife to provide a physiologically
sound diet for every member of the family.
In December, 1931, the Ministry of Health issued a Memorandum, prepared
by the Advisory Committee on Nutrition, in which the food requirements
for men, women and children of various ages are given, and in which
the essential principles of dietetics are clearly stated.
The official presentation of these facts has had the effect of stimulating
interest, and in considering the circumstances of individual families in relation
to assistance in one form or another, the Committees concerned have
discussed on more than one occasion the adequacy of the family food supply-
Though good management plays an important part, a minimum sum
must be available for food if an adequate and balanced diet is to be provided.