View report page

9
the other hand there is no epidemiological proof that poliomyelitis
has ever been spread from fæces or that man is ever
infected by flies."
However uncertain it may be, most persons will, in any
case, prefer that there should be no contamination by intestinal
bacteria whether or not there is a probability or possibility of
poliomyelitis virus being also present, since bacteriologically
unclean ice cream has at least a possibility of conveying the virus.
How useless it is then that official approval should be given
to the following advice issued to the public in connection with
prevention of poliomyelitis while ice cream is sold by persons who
have not facilities for washing their hands, as recommended.
(The italics in both following quotations are mine.)
Extract from the "British Medical Journal" dated 6th
August, 1949: —
" Poliomyelitis Precautions
We do not know if there will be a major epidemic
of poliomyelitis this autumn, but the warning signs are
sufficiently grave; and local authorities, hospital management
committees and individual practitioners would be well advised
to consider how best to handle the situations which may
arise. Attempts to control the spread of poliomyelitis have,
in the past, been singularly disappointing. The apparent
ineffectiveness of public health measures must be due at least
partly to there being perhaps several hundred cases of abortive
infection for every one diagnosed as poliomyelitis. Food in this
country is handled so carelessly that the avoidance of infection
seems impossible. However, the amount of infection may
make a difference, and sensible precautions should be taken
without carrying these to tiresome extremes. Parents should
realise that they themselves may be carriers of the virus and
may infect their own children either by droplets from the
mouth or by handling food with contaminated hands."
It is not a pleasant thought that possibly hundreds of these
"cases of abortive infection " may be employed during the poliomyelitis
season in the manufacture or sale of ice cream, or in
selling ice cream under conditions when it is likely, or even
possible, they will be selling it with contaminated hands.
Extract from Central Council for Health Education
pamphlet:
"A lot can be done if there is a high standard of personal
hygiene in the home. To protect others, remember that the
unguarded cough or sneeze is a social crime, and see that