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gonorrhoea and staphylococcal infections are examples of germs developing resistance to
antibiotics. Prevention is still important and it is pleasing to record a general increase,
compared with last year, in the number of children immunised against various
infections. When the age of eligibility for poliomyelitis vaccination was raised from
15 to 25 years, the response of this vulnerable age group was very poor. It is a pity
that when prevention succeeds the need for its continuance tends to be forgotten.
Though there was no outbreak of any size the number of cases of food poisoning
notified was higher than last year. Where only one case occurs in a household and
bacteriological investigation reveals no pathogenic organisms, it raises doubt about
the illness being due to food infection. In most cases the gastro-intestinal symptoms
are probably due to some other cause, but it is good that practitioners should always
have food poisoning in mind. It is important that notification be prompt if the
Department's investigations are to have any chance of success.
Contamination of food may arise in many ways, but only too often the source of
infection is human. Germs capable of causing food poisoning are usually carried in the
nose and bowel and are conveyed to food by hands. Thus strict personal cleanliness by
all handlers of food in home, shop, food factory and restaurant is important. The number
of contraventions of the Pood Hygiene Regulations found or. food premises is
decreasing, but hygienic premises must be supported by hygienic practice. This applies
to the customer as well as to the food retailer and it should be remembered that all
dirty milk bottles are primarily due to the faulty hygiene of the consumer.
The incidence of chronic respiratory infections such as bronchitis is directly
associated with the degree of atmospheric pollution. Apart from direct and indirect
damage to health, atmospheric pollution has a destructive effect on huildings, paintwork,
fabrics, etc. The degree of atmospheric pollution in the Borough, compared with
many more industrial areas, is not high but the records kept over the last eight years
show no signs of a decrease. It is higher than it should be if the health of the citizens
is to be safeguarded adequately. Attention has been gjyen to this and at the end
of the year the first Smoke Control Order was awaiting confirmation.
The Department maintained steady action to deal with unfit houses. While difficulties
in providing alternative accommodation persist careful thought has to be given
to action which may result in the demolition or closing of a house. By informal action
every effort is made to secure the repair and improvement of houses, but if this fails
the provision of the Housing Acts must be applied. Shortage of houses results in applicants
seeking support for their applications on medical grounds. In general, adverse
housing conditions may cause or aggravate physical and mental illness, but advocating
priority in individual cases is not an easy decision. Many matters have to be taken
into consideration and medical priority is put to best use when it is restricted to
where true medical benefit will follow re-housing.
Observations throughout the Borough give no indication that the Litter Act has,
as yet, produced any significant change. Road verges, open spaces and vacant land are
used only too often for the dumping of household, garden and other rubbish. While some
of this dumping is deliberate, much is due to thoughtlessness. People who would not
do so in their own homes and gardens, discard anywhere else cigarette packets, sweet
and ice wrappings, bus tickets, empty match boxes, etc. Even where waste bins are
provided there is as much, or more, litter around than in the bin. One ice-cream manufacturer
has provided litter baskets wherever his products are sold, and it is pleasing
to note the increasing use being made of them. Just as a house is no tidier than its
occupants, so a town is no tidier than those who live in it.
The work of the Department and especially of the Public Health inspectors,
touches the welfare of the citizens in many ways. The Council's efforts are devoted
largely to reducing health hazards, but in preventive medicine emphasis is shifting today
from things which can be done for people to things which people must do for themselves.
people who submit without protest to any health procedure imposed on them will
avoid or evade the most trivial procedures which demand some positive co-operation or
initiative on their part. The purpose of health education is to make the individual
aware of matters affecting his health in the hope of gaining his active co-operation
ln raaintaining it.
To the Council for their encouragement and support, to my colleagues in other
epartments for their co-operation and to my staff for their loyal assistance, I would
like to record my thanks.
I remain,
Your obedient Servant,
A. ANDERSON,
Medical Officer of Health
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