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17
quently and it is common knowledge that the disease has
been more prevalent than usual in this country during
the past few years. There must undoubtedly be a large
number of unknown carriers in existence and as the
paratyphoid type of organism is known to be spread
frequently by food contamination it becomes of the
utmost importance that all persons who come into contact
with food intended for others should observe the
strictest rules of personal cleanliness, always bearing in
mind that the hands in particular can be a ready medium
for the transfer of infection.
DYSENTERY.
The subject of dysentery was dealt with in some
detail in my Annual Report for 1935. It was there
indicated that there was a strong probability that many
of the mild diarrhoeas were in fact an infectious disease
caused by the Sonne dysentery bacillus. Cases of this
nature began to come to light in November of the present
year, and it soon became evident that the disease was
widespread throughout the country. The attention of
all the local doctors was again drawn by letter to the
prevalence of the disease and leaflets of advice for the
prevention of spread were prepared. Twelve notifications
were received, but there is little doubt that there
was a much greater prevalence than this indicates.
The responsible organism is excreted from the intestine
of those suffering for a variable period, and in
the case of a disease which is widespread, sometimes mild,
and often unrecognized, it is easy to understand that
infection may be readily conveyed by the person or
clothing of the sufferer either directly to others or to
food which they may consume. It is important, therefore,
that the simple precautions mentioned under the
heading of enteric fever should be carried out by all,
whether suffering from obvious intestinal disease or not.