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One of the activities indulged in by members of the club was that of "rolling"
their kayaks as practised by the Eskimos. This manoeuvre involves a complete circular
motion of the canoe and its occupants laterally, so that the occupant may be underwater
for a period of time according to his skill, and it is not unusual for the canoeist to
swallow the river water while submerged.
A full investigation was carried out by the Port of London Authority, who super
vise that part of the River Thames. The Medical Officer of Health of that authority
reported that he could find no evidence to support the theory that the infection had
been contracted in the River Thames.
No other member of the club appears to have complained of symptoms of the
disease and it is known that the deceased had canoed in other waters elsewhere during
estimated time of infection.
Infective Hepatitis.
The Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health in his report on the state of
the Public Health 1964 mentioned the problem of infective hepatitis.
There appears to be a rapid increase in the incidence of this disease in some
European countries, though how big the problem is in England and Wales it is difficult
to say, as it is not generally notifiable.
In order to assess the problem as it affects this Borough, family doctors were asked
to notify all cases voluntarily until the end of the year. 41 cases were so notified and
steps are now being taken to include infective hepatitis on the list of diseases officially
notifiable and for which the local authority may pay a notification fee.
Following a request from the Public Health Laboratory Service it was agreed to
take part in a survey which was being carried out to try and determine the value of
gamma globulin in outbreaks of infective hepatitis. This survey still continues and
results are not yet to hand. (See also page 21—surveys).
Smallpox (Variola Minor).
During the year outbreaks of this disease were reported in the West Midlands
and in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, although no connection was established between
the two outbreaks.
The mildness of the disease rendered its differentiation from Chicken-pox difficult
in some cases. As a precautionary measure family doctors were asked to notify me of
all cases of Chicken-pox which occurred in their practices. In several instances "bedside"
consultations on doubtful cases were held and, fortunately, all these cases were
found to be Chicken-pox.
The Public Health (Leprosy) Regulations, 1966.
These Regulations which came into operation on the 1st March, 1966, made
leprosy notifiable by medical practitioners to the local Medical Officer of Health who
is required to send details to the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health.
The Medical Officer of Health has to maintain a strictly confidential record of persons
suffering from leprosy. The former regulations required leprosy to be notified by
medical practitioners direct to the Ministry of Health.
Only one case was passed on to me by the Chief Medical Officer and upon enquiry
it was found that this patient had moved from the Borough.
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