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Of the 19 incorrect new milk samples 12 containing added water were procured from one farmer
on whom fines and costs amounting to £31 were imposed.
Clean Food Campaign.—No special campaign in regard to clean food was carried out during the
year but the Sanitary Inspectors made 1,340 visits more than in 1948 in connection with the inspection
and supervision of food. Their continuous efforts to press home the lesson of "clean food, cooked, stored
and packed in clean containers and touched only by clean hands" are meeting with some success. Towards
the end of the year the Council decided to adopt the Ministry of Food "Model Byelaws for Securing Clean
Food."
GENERAL MATTERS
Persons in Need of Care and Attention.—Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, places
the responsibility on the Council of taking action to secure "the necessary care and attention for persons
who—
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease or, being aged, infirm or physically incapacitated,
are living in insanitary conditions and
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving from other persons, proper care and
attention."
The action to be taken involves application to the Court for an Order for the compulsory removal
of the person concerned to institution or hospital. Before bringing such cases to the notice of the Council
every effort is made to arrange voluntary admission or for the necessary care to be given by relatives,
friends, etc. During the year one application concerning a bedridden man, living in insanitary conditions
and not receiving adequate care from relatives, was made to the Court for an Order but after hearing the
evidence the Magistrates decided to make no Order. The person concerned was kept under observation
till his death later in the year.
Burials.—Under Section 50 of the National Assistant Act, 1948, it is the duty of the Council to
arrange the burial of any person who has died in the district where it appears that there are no suitable
arrangements for the disposal of the body. During 1949, 73 burials were arranged in accordance with this
section.
Public Mortuary.—The public mortuary is situated in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church. The
premises are out of date and unsuitable for post-mortem examinations or the retention of a body for other
than a very short time so by arrangement with Acton Borough Council and the Coroner bodies are taken
direct to or transferred to Acton Mortuary. The Council pays a proportion of the cost of the maintenance
of the Acton Mortuary. During 1949, 12 bodies were deposited in the local mortuary.
Medical Examination of Staff.—For superannuation or other purposes 28 members of the Councils
staff were referred to the Health Department for medical examination.
Conferences and Refresher Courses.—The Medical Officer of Health attended the Royal
Sanitary Institute Congress and the refresher course for County District Medical Officers organised by the
Society of Medical Officers of Health. The Chief Sanitary Inspector attended the Conference of the
Sanitary Inspectors Association. The Deputy Chief Sanitary Inspector and two District Sanitary
Inspectors attended a refresher course for sanitary inspectors arranged by the Central Council for Health
Education.
Health Education.—No special campaign of health education was in operation during the year.
Posters issued by the Central Council for Health Education continued to be displayed on the boards formerly
used by the Empire Marketing Board. During the year the Medical Officer of Health gave talks to
several organisations in the Borough on various aspects of the health services. Though the work of the
department is not primarily educational the staff are fully aware of the opportunities given by their contac
with the people for drawing attention to matters bearing on health and hygiene.
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