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80
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
General.
In the early days of the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban
District Council, just prior to the last war, the amount of infectious
disease was considered by some to be an indication of the sanitary
state of an area and the general health of its population. In the
seventh decade of this century the pattern of infectious disease
has largely changed. Most of the dreaded childhood diseases have
been conquered, at least temporarily. Diphtheria no longer casts a
shadow largely due to the success of the programme of
immunisation. In 1963, even poliomyelitis appears to have become
something of a rarity. Formerly patients with scarlet fever were
rushed to isolation hospital, whereas in 1963 the disease may
scarcely be discernible. Measles is still with us, appearing in twoyearly
cycles, but in an attenuated form.
If a district is unfortunate enough to have introduced into it one
of the more serious illnesses, such as smallpox or typhoid fever,
the defence may well depend upon the prompt and meticulous
application of a pre-arranged plan. Thus steps are taken to keep
under surveillance all persons arriving in this country who may
have been in contact with smallpox or even if they have come from
places where it is endemic, without a valid vaccination certificate.
In this way a possible outbreak may be forestalled. Four persons
were dealt with under this procedure during the year.

Of the 239, whooping cough accounted for 66 and dysentery
98. These are relatively minor conditions, and I am pleased to
report that the more serious diseases were again absent or notified
in very small numbers.