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Of the preventable diseases, that which is assuming greater
significance is food poisoning. The occurrence of illness of this nature
has increased steadily throughout the country since the war and it is
likely to continue to present a serious health problem so long as economic
circumstances require the maximum use of whatever sources of food
are available and until a marked improvement in our standards of
food hygiene has been achieved.
Sanitary supervision in the hands of your Chief Sanitary Inspector
continued to be exercised at a high level of efficiency. The greatest
obstacle to progress in this important field of hygiene is, here as elsewhere,
still the lack of housing accommodation, and we have suffered
so long from this sanitary sore that there is a risk of familiarity breeding
the proverbial contempt and inducing a sense of fatalistic resignation.
Much of the present expenditure on sanatoria, hospitals and other
forms of medical treatment would be unnecessary if the housing problem
were solved.
I would make my customary acknowledgment of the valuable
service rendered by the staff of my department who, as in the past,
not only worked with efficiency, but with a keen sense of personal
responsibility.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
F. LAWRENCE SMITH,
Medical Officer of Health.
July, 1950.
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