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should be immunised. Children are prone to abrasions and should
be protected from the incidental risk of infection. At present
it is a routine to inject anti-tetanic serum after wounds. This
serum occasionally causes undesirable allergic reactions and its
use can be avoided by precautionary immunisation with toxoid
before injury. Immunisation requires three injections at monthly
intervals. These can be combined with immunisation against
Diphtheria and Whooping Cough. Immunisation must be sustained
by reinforcement injection at the end of one year and thereafter
at intervals not exceeding five years. A record of the dates
of injection should always be carried on the person. During
1957 three hundred and ten children received primary injections.
Food Poisoning. Four cases were notified in 1957, compared
with fifteen cases in 1956. Two were adults and two were children.
One case was due to Staphylococcal infection of cold roast duck.
Two cases in one family were caused by Salmonella Typhlmurium.
The source of infection was obscure. A child aged two years died
from a combined infection of Salmonella Typhlmurlum and
Staphylococcus. The source of infection was not ascertained.
The occurrence of infections due to Salmonellae and
Staphylococci in food continues to cause concern. No drug or
antibiotic is specific against Salmonellae. Some types of
Staphylococci have become resistant to certain antibiotics.
Prevention of infection depends on scrupulous cleanliness in the
production, storage, manufacture and distribution of food. The
washing of hands after use of the W. C. is the most effective
protectlve measure against intestinal carriers of infection.
Early notification of cases of food poisoning is necessary so
as to obtain the residue of suspected food for bacteriological
examination.
Dysentery. Fifteen cases were notified in 1957, compared
with forty seven cases in 1956. All were of the Sonne type.
Eleven of the cases occurred in an institution for children. The
four district cases were sporadic.
Sonne Dysentery is a highly infectious form of gastroenteritis.
The infection is spread by faecal contamination of
hands, objects, and, in particular, lavatory seats. Prevention
depends on the washing of hands after use of the W. C. and on the
efficient cleansing o f communal W.Cs. in schools and public places.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers. No case was notified.
Meningococcal infections. Two cases were notified. A
woman aged seventy five years died from Meningococcal Septicaemia.
A child aged nine months recovered from Acute Meningococcal
Menlngltis.
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