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The same high standard of attention to sanitation and evironmental
conditions was maintained. The satisfactory results of the testing and
sampling of foodstuffs is indicative of the close attention paid to this aspect
of public health. The Public Analyst's report on 278 samples showed only
1 breach of the regulations, a slight irregularity in the labelling of one
product. All milk samples were again faultless and all ice cream was of
the highest grade of bacterial purity.
The incidence of vermin infestation continued to decrease. The
sewers again gave no evidence of rat infestation and the number of premises
on which such rodents were found was smaller than for a number of years.
The Council's scheme for converting the whole district into one
complete smokeless zone under the provisions of the Clean Air Act
continued without interruption. The scheme drawn up in 1960 is planned
in 10 zones which it is hoped to complete at the rate of one a year. Two
zones are now complete and work is proceeding on zones 3, 4 and 5. It is
to be hoped that this work will not be held up by the lack of smokeless
solid fuel.
Slum clearance made a little further headway when 4 small areas
involving 42 dwellings were represented as unfit and Orders were made in
respect of them by the Minister without modification. Progress in this
work is determined by the rate at which alternative accommodation can be
provided for the displaced occupants.
One of the problems which is likely to become more prominent with
the passage of time is that of noise. The Noise Abatement Act, 1960 makes
a small contribution to the control of noise, but the chief provision of the
Act is to include noise, which is a nuisance, among the statutory nuisances
of the provisions of Part III of the Public Health Act. As with some other
nuisances this is a question of degree and there is no definition as to what
amount of noise constitutes a nuisance.
It has been established by observations over many years that in
areas where the water supply contained at least one part per million of
fluorine, the incidence of dental decay in children was much less than in
areas where the water was deficient in this element. Careful and prolonged
study has shown that by bringing the fluorine content of the water supply
up to this level, a great deal of dental disease can be prevented. There is
no scientific evidence that such a procedure has any harmful effects and its
introduction in areas such as this would make significant improvement
to the dental health of the community.
I would again acknowledge the willing help of my staff and thank them
for their contribution to the successful results of another year's work.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. LAWRENCE SMITH,
Medical Officer of Health.
July, 1963.
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