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SICKNESS IN THE DISTRICT.
(a) INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
It was mainly because of the devastating effects of infectious
diseases that Medical Officers of Health were first appointed just
over 100 years ago and it is in the restriction of these diseases that
the most spectacular results have been achieved. It is, therefore,
understandable that consideration of their prevalence is given a
rather conspicuous place in reports such as this.
Fortunately during the century the picture has completely
altered and some of the diseases which at times decimated the
population, e.g. plague, cholera and smallpox, have now virtually
disappeared from this Country, although still present and no less
deadly in some parts of the world. Smallpox is, however, quite
liable to reappear here, particularly in view of the speed of air
transport of travellers from the tropics.
It will be seen in the following notes that the majority of other
infectious diseases which remain with us have also declined in
prevalence or in their severity, and are, therefore, apt to be disregarded
now as not having an important influence on the state
of the public health. Unfortunately, however, the virulence of
the organisms causing these diseases, has varied throughout history
and we therefore have to be ever watchful lest they again become
serious enemies.

It will be seen that tuberculosis is omitted from this list of
acute infectious diseases, this chronic disease being dealt with
separately later. Further, 1,339 notifications were received
compared with 364 in the preceding year, chiefly owing to the
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