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three days, and the outbreak was therefore explosive in nature,
confirmed cases of sonne dysentery continued to occur sporadically
in the District during the subsequent month or so. In all, 248 out
of a total of approximately 600 children on the register of this
school showed either clinical or bacteriological evidence (or both)
of infection during this period and an additional 120 contacts
(including 47 adults) were similarly affected. Many of them were
not ill at all or had such mild and ill-defined symptoms, that it is
not possible to say how many actual cases of dysentery occurred.
Throughout this incident there was excellent collaboration between
the officers of the Council, of the Education Authority and of the
Public Health Laboratory services. The health visitors were most
helpful with the investigations. The Council requested, and obtained,
assurances from the Education Authority that appropriate instructions
had been issued to ensure that there would be no repetition of the
incorrect advice given by a member of the staff concerning the use
of the meat in question, which was the cause of the outbreak.
Apart from the above outbreak, the infectious disease situation
was highly satisfactory. There were no cases of diphtheria, and only
one of poliomyelitis. There were considerably less new tuberculosis
notifications from the Debden L.C.C. estate (7) than in 1957 (l8).
The intensive public Mass Radiography campaign which took place in
1957, almost certainly revealed cases which would otherwise not have
come to light until 1958 or later. Further, suggestions for
intensifying the future campaign against tuberculosis have been
submitted to the County Medical Officer and accepted for publication
by the British Medical Journal as the result of knowledge and
experience I gained whilst in Denmark. I want to take this opportunity
of again expressing ray appreciation to the Council for allowing me to
accept the scholarship awarded to me by the Government of that country.
NEW LEGISLATION.
The Clean Air Act (1956) came into operation on 1st June, 1958,
and in anticipation thereof, the Council has had the question of
establishing a smoke control area under continuous review since
April, 1957. On my report and recommendation, the Council's River
Estate-a compact area comprising 720 dwellings, with no slums or
industries-was selected for first consideration, as it was thought
that this could be converted into a smokeless zone with the minimum
of delay and expense, and that the project would provide useful
experience to the department when considering conversion of the whole
District at a later date. The Council has so far deferred action
pending further information on action proposed to be taken by
neighbouring Authorities in more heavily polluted areas to the windward
side of the District, and further clarification of the smokeless
fuel supply position. The anomalous position of landlords and
tenants on opposite sides of the boundary of any smokeless zone.
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