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6
PART I
CONTROL OF DISEASE
The incidence of common infectious diseases has again been low. This
satisfactory situation is due in no small measure to the efforts of preventive
medicine over a period of many years. To ensure its continuance these efforts
must be sustained and expanded to embrace conditions such as food poisoning
and poliomyelitis which still show no marked diminution in their incidence.
As mentioned in my last Annual Report there is scope for research and
endeavour in the field of ”stress” diseases. A survey in general practices,
reported recently, revealed that some 20% of the cases attending doctors'
surgeries fall predominantly into this group. The causative factors cannot
be isolated and examined by bacteriological techniques but must be sought in
the social, economic and physical environment of the individual. Elucidation
and control of these factors need close co-operation between all three
branches of the health service. Diagnosis is the concern of the general
practitioners and the hospital, but the environment is largely a matter for
the local authority health and welfare services to which, however, the general
practitioner can make a valuable contribution.
Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1953
These regulations which came into force on 1st April, 1953 replace
similar regulations made in 1927. They provide additional preventive
measures to enable prompt action to be taken.
The definition of diseases covered by the regulations has been altered
and extended to conform with present views on the causation of food poisoning.
Now a local authority may give its Medical Officer of Health general authority
to issue notices to deal with food handlers who are suspected of suffering
from, or being carriers of, an infection liable to cause food poisoning.
Until these regulations were made it was necessary to report to the local
authority before action could be taken.