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Prevention of Blindness.
Information as to blindness occurring in children under 5 years
of age coming to our notice through the maternity and child welfare
scheme is transmitted to the Surrey Voluntary Association for
the Blind, in accordance with the recommendation contained in
Memo. 162/B.D.
No action was taken under Section 66 of the Public Health Act,
1925, nor under Section 176 of the Public Health Act, 1936.
Food Poisoning.
Two instances of suspected food poisoning were investigated.
Three members of one household were taken ill with severe
gastro-intestinal symptoms some 3 hours after partaking of boiled
ham to which suspicion was directed. The remains of this ham
were examined bacteriologically and yielded a profuse growth of
staphylococcus aureus. Examination of faecal specimens from the
patients gave negative results. All recovered. The clinical
histories and bacteriological findings were compatible with a
diagnosis of food poisoning due to staphylococcal toxin.
The second enquiry was into the death of an adult, which
occurred after an illness of 9 days. Bacillus aetrycke was isolated
from the intestinal contents post mortem and death was certified
from this infection. Detailed enquiries were made into probable
foods which might have been the vehicle of infection, including
Cornish cream, smoked haddock and eggs. As no other cases
occurred either in the house or in association with the deceased,
supporting evidence was entirely lacking. The only food which
was not shared by other members of the family at the material time
was a foreign hen egg and this was the most likely of all the sources
investigated.
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