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the sanitary inspectors as they had to carry out the inspection
of food stuff damaged or possibly damaged to determine whether
its condition was such that it should be withdrawn from sale to
the public. In the course of their more ordinary duties, particular
attention has been devoted by the health visitors to the subject
of feeding and purchasing, regard being had, in the case of the
latter, to the availability of suitable products. As reported last
year, the health visitors, who at the outbreak of the war, for a
few weeks, devoted practically the whole of their time to A.R.P.
services, were, as soon as possible, released from this occupation,
though in most cases remaining available as part-time volunteers
to the A.R.P. services, and returned to their usual duties which,
as contrasted with the work at the first aid posts, could be carried
out only by persons of their experience and training. This line
of action has since received the approval of the Ministry of Health
who in their circular No. 2280 pointed out that while appreciating
that the health visitors have done most valuable work at first
aid posts, emphasize that their routine maternity and child welfare
work is so important that the Minister trusted that authorities
would make every effort to free them from regular duties at the
posts in order that they may attend to the health and well-being
of mothers and young children. In a later communication,
circular No. 2376, the Minister pointed out the inadvisability of
sanitary inspectors being wholely or mainly employed as air raid
wardens or in the first aid services, etc. In this district, owing to
the reduction of the sanitary inspectorate because of the demand
of the Services, it had never been possible to consider the use of
the few inspectors available for any duties other than those in
which their particular training and experience would be put to
full use.
During the year there have been many phenomena arising
directly or indirectly from enemy action which might have had
their repercussions on the health of the district. Of these, the
one which possibly came nearest to having any effect was the
danger arising from the use as dormitories of public air raid
shelters by large numbers of persons. As this district was a neutral
area, no official evacuation took place from it, nor were there
admissions to it on any great scale from evacuated areas. It
was, however, designated a reception area for other purposes, and
has had from one source or another fresh additions to its population.
A more direct effect of enemy action is that risk of the spread of
water-borne infection following on damage to water mains and
pollution of the supply. Then, to be also considered are those
risks to health which might arise from the enforced acceptance
of lower hygienic standards because of the shortage of man-power
or the inexperience of the newcomers. Although, in point of
fact, the account which follows is one of occurrences which might
have, rather than had, taken place, it is felt desirable to make