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Of the outbreaks involving more than one person, the suspected food was consumed at home in
6 cases and in works canteens in 2 cases. The investigation of several of the single cases raised doubts
about the condition being truly due to food poisoning.
In September, some of the local medical practitioners drew the attention of the Department to
the occurrence of many cases of vomiting and diarrhoea in their practices and raised the suspicion of
an outbreak of food poisoning. Enquiries at the schools in the affected area revealed that many children
had been away for 1—3 days with symptoms of which vomiting was the most prominent. On visiting
the homes of these children, it was found in many cases that other members of the family had been
affected and histories of one person after another in the household falling a victim were, quite frequent.
The onset was sudden and the main symptoms were nausea and vomiting with occasional diarrhoea.
In some cases a rise of temperature was recorded, but this was not general. The symptoms generally
cleared up in 24 hours and in many cases no medical attention had been sought. In others the attack
cleared up more slowly and as many as 7 days passed before full recovery. In no case was the
development of jaundice or other complication recorded. The outbreak started fairly abruptly and after
reaching a peak, slowly abated to finally clear at the end of October.
All specimens sent for bacteriological and virus investigation gave negative results. There was
no evidence of any common factor, such as school, place of employment, water, milk or other food.
For some years outbreaks of sudden and unexplained vomiting and diarrhoea have occurred in this
country and in United States of America. These illnesses have been called " epidemic winter vomiting "
and " epidemic gastro-enteritis " and recent work in America seems to indicate that the condition is a
virus infection. It is probable that this local outbreak was of the same nature.
HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY OTHER AUTHORITIES
North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.—Two general hospitals (West Middlesex,
1,150 beds and Hounslow, 81 beds) and one fever hospital (South Middlesex, 140 beds) are situate in
the Borough. Part of the accommodation in the fever hospital is used for other cases. The West
Middlesex and South Middlesex Hospitals are controlled by the South West Middlesex Hospital Management
Committee, while Hounslow Hospital and the Chest Clinic are the responsibility of the Staines
Group Hospital Management Committee. The Regional Hospital Board provides the specialist services
for the hospitals and for domiciliary consultations.
Middlesex County Council—Health Department.—The County Council is the Local Health
Authority under the National Health Service Act, 1946. The following services are provided in the
Borough:—
(a) Ante-natal and post-natal clinics
92 Bath Road, Hounslow Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Thursday afternoon.
Busch Corner, Isleworth Tuesday afternoon.
Heston Village Hall Thursday afternoon.
(b) Infant welfare clinics
92 Bath Road, Hounslow Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
afternoons.
Busch Corner, Isleworth Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
Heston Village Hall Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Friday
morning.
Cranford Memorial Hall Monday and Friday afternoons.
(c) Immunisation and vaccination clinics
92 Bath Road, Hounslow Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning.
Busch Corner, Isleworth Tuesday (fortnightly) afternoon.
Heston Village Hall Tuesday (fortnightly) morning.
(d) Artificial Sunlight clinics (winter months)
92 Bath Road, Hounslow Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
Busch Corner, Isleworth Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
(e) Dental clinics
Busch Comer,' Houslow Monday to Friday daily and Saturday mornings.
(f) Day nurseries Approved accommodation
Nantly House, Lampton Road 54 children.
Acton Lodge, Brentford End 35 children.
1 hese day nurseries admit children aged 0-5 years and a charge is made for the care of the children.
(g) Midwifery Service.
Certified midwives are employed for attendance as midwives or maternity nurses at
domiciliary confinements. Gas and air analgesia is available. Maternity outfits are supplied
free for home confinements.
(h) Home Nursing.
Male and female nurses are employed as " district" nurses. Where nursing equipment is
required for use in the home, arrangements have been made for this to be supplied on loan
through the British Red Cross Society at 78 Lampton Road, Hounslow.
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