London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Woolwich 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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Cases of Food Poisoning Notified during 1937.
| Age Periods. | Male. | Female. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | — | — | — |
| 1 and under 5 | — | — | — |
| 5 and under 10 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 10 and under 15 | — | — | — |
| 15 and under 20 | — | — | — |
| 20 and under 35 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| 35 and under 45 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 45 and under 65 | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 65 and over | — | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | 28 |
The medical practitioner notifying usually states on his certificate the food
he suspects. In 14 households the food under suspicion was meat; in 10 it was
fish; and in 2 other instances it was other foods, while in 2 instances no particular
food was regarded as the cause. Most of the cases were slight in character and
only two were admitted to hospital.
Only one case was followed up bacteriologically. An organism of the salmonella
group, probably of the aertrycke strain was found.
Chemical and Bacteriological Examination of Food.—The laboratories at
which work is carried out, and the nature of the work done is reported on fully in
that Section of the Report which deals generally with the provision of health services
in the Borough.
Nutrition.—Dissemination of knowledge and instruction on matters affecting
nutrition is part of the Council's general scheme of health propaganda, q.v.
As part of the Council's scheme for Health Propaganda, cookery demonstration
classes are held at the Tuberculosis Dispensary for the instruction of the wives and
mothers of the tuberculous in the buying and cooking of simple, cheap and nutritious
articles of food and the preparation of suitable dishes. This is fully reported on in the
section dealing with Health Propaganda.