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Whilst great satisfaction must be expressed at such a low incidence
of diphtheria, it must be emphasised that there is an inherent
danger in that freedom from this disease may lead to a general
apathy towards immunisation, which in turn may give rise to a
recrudescence.
Antitoxin.—In accordance with the Antitoxin Order, 1910, a
supply of Antitoxin is provided by the Council for the use of General
Practitioners in emergency cases. Two requests were dealt with
during the current year.
Recently arrangements have been made for a supply of this
Antitoxin to be made available at the St. Alfege's, Seamen's and
Brook Hospitals.
Acute Primary Pneumonia and Acute Influenzal Pneumonia.—One
of the 31 cases attributed to these causes was not confirmed,
giving a total of 30. A similar figure was recorded for the
previous year and 32 for 1948. Fifteen occurred in East Greenwich;
4 in West Greenwich ; and 11 in Charlton and Kidbrooke. There
was one death ascribed to Acute Influenzal Pnuemonia. Seven
cases were removed to hospital.
Typhoid Fever.—No notifications in respect of this disease
were received during the year.
In the last 10 years there have been only fifteen notifications of
typhoid fever and only one death has been registered in comparison
with the ten year period to 1910, when 396 notifications were recorded
with 58 associated deaths.
Scarlet Fever.—Out of 168 cases notified, 8 were not confirmed,
thus giving a final total for the year of 160, compared with
128 in 1949 and 78 in 1948. The distribution was : East Greenwich
82 ; West Greenwich 22 ; St. Nicholas, Deptford 14 ; Charlton and
Kidbrooke 42.
Forty-four cases received hospital treatment.
No deaths resulted from this disease.