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received, 456 related to measles, 395 to whooping cough, 190 to
dysentery, 130 to scarlet fever and 53 to puerperal pyrexia, Sonne
dysentery was again endemic but a good deal less prevalent than in the
previous year. Its occurrence was mainly sporadic but one day nursery
was involved in an outbreak of some 45 cases. Some 228 cases of
infectious disease were admitted to hospital as compared with 356 in
1955. Only five cases of poliomyelitis were notified, and of these
three were of the paralytic type and two of the non-paralytic type.
Poliomyelitis vaccine was given to 646 children. Results of trials to
date in this Country and elsewhere indicate that this vaccine gives an
apparent protection of about 80 per cent. against the paralytic forms of
the disease. There is still much to be learned about the mode of
spread of, and the provision of adequate and lasting immunity against
this dread disease. Intensive research continues, and there are
undoubtedly good grounds for being optimistic as to the future. The
six deaths from infectious disease were all due to pneumonia.
Tuberculosis. Notifications of tuberculosis were 123 as compared with
129 in the previous year, and the total deaths from this disease were
18. The death rate per thousand of the population was 0.11 for Hackney,
as compared with a rate of 0.12 (provisional) for England and Wales.
B.C.G. vaccination was given to 1,059 school children, and to 169 child
contacts. The remarkable decline in the mortality and morbidity from
tuberculosis is probably the outstanding conquest in the field of health
in recent years. The tables in the section of the report dealing with
tuberculosis give details of the declining death rate in Hackney.
Inspection and supervision of food. The Pood and Drugs Act, 1955 came
into operation on the 1st January, 1956. This Act, in addition to
consolidating previous legislation, introduces some important changes in
the law relating to food. The Pood Hygiene Regulations, 1955. made
under the new Act also came into operation on the 1st January, 1956.
These Regulations, in replacing the provisions of SECTION 13 of
the Pood and Drugs Act, 1938, lay down requirements in respect of
cleanliness of food premises and of stalls and of apparatus and equipment,
the hygienic handling of food, the cleanliness of persons engaged
in the handling of food, and their clothing; and the action to be taken
when they suffer from or are carriers of certain infections. They also
deal with the construction of food premises, the repair and maintenance
of food premises, stalls, vehicles, etc. and the facilities to be
provided; and the temperature at which certain foods which are par
ticularly liable to transmit disease are to be kept in food premises.
The legal powers now available to local authorities in their efforts to
secure higher standards of hygiene in the food and catering industries
are unquestionably ample, A copy of the Regulations and a copy of a
pamphlet summarising their principal provisions were sent to all food
traders in the Borough. It is a pleasure to report that, though much
has yet to be done, the standard of hygiene in the majority of food
premises continues to inprove; in this connection the co-operation of
many persons engaged in the distribution and sale of food is very
welcome. The general public can help to a very great extent in
bringing about further improvement by refusing to accept food which is
offered for sale under unhygienic conditions.
Housing. The major portion of the time of the Public Health inspection
staff was, as is to be expected, devoted to the inspection of dwellings,