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the slaughter of 250,000 cattle - more than the human population of Waltham Forest. The other was
the discovery that in mixed human infections germs which have become resistant to antibiotics can
pass on their immunity to other bacteria which are normally vulnerable. The first of these occurrences
shows just how helpless we are in dealing with virus diseases, most of which are quite
unaffected by even the most powerful (and dangerous) antibiotics. There is no effective treatment
for virus infections, from the common cold to smallpox, from measles to polio. The second points
out the danger to us of the development of totally resistant strains of bacteria. One can imagine
the effect if streptococcus, the germ responsible for tonsillitis and scarlet fever, was to become
immune to penicillin. Already the value of antibiotics in treating enteric infections like gastroenteritis
is seriously questioned and there is general agreement that their use tends to prolong
and not shorten the period during which the recovered patient is liable to be a carrier. Perhaps we
have come to rely too much on the "wonder drugs" and now that many germs are becoming immune
to them we must go back and relearn the principles of hygiene and take prevention much more
seriously now that a sure cure can no longer be provided in a course of coloured capsules.
Altogether, visits by the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, the Infectious Diseases Nurse
and her relief totalled well over 2,000 and 964 laboratory specimens were collected and examined.
Our thanks are due to the pathologists and laboratory staff at the Enfield Laboratory and those at
Connaught and Wanstead Hospitals. Also, to the Director (Dr.Hugh Ramsay) and staff of the Chest
Clinic and Mass Miniature Radiography Unit and to Dr.McKendrick and his staff at St.Ann's
Hospital whose ready and willing help with all cases of infectious disease is much appreciated.
Effective control and prevention depends upon early warning before spread has occurred and for
this we are grateful to our colleagues in general practice whose alertness and skill have so often
enabled us to isolate a patient before others have become infected, and thus abort what might
become a serious epidemic.
G.H.G. Poole
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
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