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73
for some considerable time that two successive very dry summers
(1934-35) have profoundly disturbed the underground waters and
opened up channels of contamination of water supplies which had
not existed previously; and epidemics of the kind experienced in
Croydon have been forecast. The characteristic of the present
epidemic, however, is the amount of criticism—informed and
uninformed—levelled against the Medical Officer of Health not
only by members of the general public, but by his medical colleagues
in private practice.
It has been freely suggested that the public has been lulled
into a feeling of false security with regard to its alleged freedom from
typhoid fever. In order that members of the Council may
appreciate the actual position, I consider it expedient to bring
to your notice the following facts and suggestions.
Incidence.
In this and other countries the infection is always present in
the community. From time to time we get a sudden and widespread
epidemic, and even during recent years we have had the
following serious outbreaks in this country.