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living in houses that the Public Health Committee had decided were
unfit for human habitation. Not only is it improper that these families
should have to remain living in these conditions, but the delay in their
being rehoused means that there must be fewer houses in time in which to
rehouse other families similarly placed.
Much of the work of the Public Health Department is preventive
in nature. To an increasing extent the inspectors are becoming instructors
and demonstrators and they can feel that their lessons will
result in a diminution in some annoyances and nuisances. At times
a more direct preventive action can be taken. Two years ago two sisters
in the district suffered from paratyphoid fever. Laboratory investigation
showed that some other people in adjoining districts suffered from the
same illness and had probably been attacked by the same organism.
This led to the recognition of a bakery as a source of the trouble and in
that bakery suspicion fell on Chinese egg albumen. Later infections
proved conclusively that the preparation was liable to contamination.
Measures have since been taken to remove this risk so that there should
be no more cases of paratyphoid fever from thise source in this country.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
CARYL THOMAS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Council Offices,
Kynaston Court,
Harrow Weald,
If June, 1956.