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Food Poisoning. There were no serious outbreaks of food
poisoning reported during the year. Eleven notifications were
received, consisting of five single cases and three family groups
of two cases in each family. Fæcal specimens were taken in
every case, and in three of the single cases salmonella typhimurium
was isolated from the stools, whilst in the other two
patients no pathogenic organisms were isolated. The agents
identified in the three family groups were Proteus Morgan,
Salmonella Typhi-Murium and Salmonella Senftenberg.
The latter, which is comparatively rare in England and
Wales, was the subject of an investigation by the Director
of the Epidemiological Research Laboratory, as several eases
had been reported from various parts of the country during the
summer months. Details of all notified cases were received
from the Research Laboratory, but 110 connection between these
and the two cases in our district could be established.
Dysentery. Thirteen notifications of dysentery were
received, all but one being typed as sonnei. The thirteenth
case was notified as Newcastle type. Only five school children
were involved and in these instances any possibility of spread
of infection was checked by the immediate exclusion from
school, and by keeping the children away until two negative
specimens were obtained.
Paratyphoid Fever. There were two notifications of Paratyphoid
'B', one in February and the other in November. In
neither case could the source of infection be traced. Both
cases were removed to hospital for treatment. No information
could be obtained regarding Vi-phage, as the hospitals concerned
failed to send cultures for typing.
Meningococcal Infection. A child aged 3½ years was admitted
to the Grove Hospital in January with a history of
vomiting and pyrexia. The case was diagnosed as Cerebrospinal
fever. The child attended a nursery school 'm the area,
and all absentees from this school were investigated. No further
cases developed.
Erysipelas. We received 12 notifications during the year,
all of which involved the face. Pour of the patients were males
and eight females. Two of the cases were removed to isolation
hospital for treatment and the others were treated at their
homes.
Pneumonia. There were 67 cases of Pneumonia notified.
Of this total, 19 were stated to be influenzal in origin.
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