London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Coulsdon and Purley 1953

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]

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WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION.
Since August, 1952, all the private doctors in the District
sending in reports of completed courses of immunisation against
whooping cough with a prescribed vaccine have been paid a
similar fee to that which has been payable for years in respect of diphtheria immunisation,

Table: This treatment was also ottered at the Welfare Centres from the beginning of 1953 and during that year the following numbers were treated:—

This treatment was also ottered at the Welfare Centres from the beginning of 1953 and during that year the following numbers were treated:—

Welfare Centres.
Number who completed Primary treatment229
Number of "Booster" doses given111
General Practitioners
Number who completed Primary treatment381
Number of "Booster" doses given29

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At present it is recommended that 3 doses of whooping cough
vaccine should be given (usually combined with a diphtheria
immunisation agent) at monthly intervals, commencing at the
sixth month, and a 'booster' dose at 2 years, but with experience
this time table may be varied. Meanwhile as this treatment is
not usually given after 2 years of age, it is not surprising to find
that fewer children are being immunised against whooping cough
than against diphtheria.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Almost all the specimens requiring bacteriological examination
in the interests of the public health are sent to the
Public Health Laboratory, West Hill House, West Hill Road.
Epsom, and during 1953 reports were received on the following
specimens:—
Milk, ice cream, and water samples 419
Food utensils 328
Nose or throat swabs 54
Rectal, eye and urine swabs 9
Faeces 40
Food
Samples of water requiring chemical analysis, and milk
for biological examinations were sent by the Local Authority
to The Clinical Research Association, while Food and Drug
samples are submitted to the Public Analyst.
DISINFECTION.
The disinfection of bedding, etc., is undertaken at the
Wandle Valley Hospital, while the disinfection of premises
is carried out by the officers of the Public Health Department.
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