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
Ealing 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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| Disease | Under One Year | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 5 | 5 to io | io to 15 | 15 to 20 | 20 to 35 | 35 to 45 | 45 to 65 | 65 and upwards | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Scarlet Fever | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Enteric Fever | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Puerperal Sepsis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pneumonia: | |||||||||||||
| Primary | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 21 | 42 | 77 |
| Influenzal | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 |
| Acute Polio-Myelitis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 3 |
| Cerebro spinal Fever | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Malaria | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dysentery | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tuberculosis: | |||||||||||||
| Pulmonary | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 48 |
| Non-Pulmonary | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 6 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Measles | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Whooping Cough | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Totals | 4 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 17 | 15 | 44 | 50 | 138 |
Diphtheria.
The high rate of immunisation in the Borough has led to
a dramatic fall in the number of cases of diphtheria. During the
year only 3 cases were notified as suspected diphtheria (as opposed
to 16 in 1949) and none of these were confirmed.
When we recall that in 1935, before the start of a mass
immunisation campaign, there were 228 cases in Ealing with 15
deaths, we may feel justly proud of these results.
There should, however, be no complacency if this happy result
is to be maintained, for continuing freedom from the disease
depends upon a high level of immunity.
The figures for the country as a whole show a similar decline
in the number of deaths from 2,480 in 1940 to 85 in 1949.
The importance of diphtheria prophylaxis is emphasised to
the parents, during the visits to the health centres, by the Health
Visitors and the Doctors.
This is followed up by "birthday cards" to each child at
the age of one year—incorporating reminders of the important
points of mothercraft.