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
Wood Green 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wood Green]
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Smal1 pox
No case of smallpox occurred In Wood Green during 1955.Indeed,
for the first time in many years no doubtful cases were reported
Once again. I am happy to report that the number of mothers
seeking vaccination for their infants at Child Welfare Centres
in Wood Green shows a very welcome increase. The latest figures
which I have produced for submission to the County Council show
that the number of children under the age of one, who have been
protected against smallpox, is now more than 50%. This figure
is very much higher than could have been claimed only a few years
ago nd shows, I feel, the value of true health education It also
points to the fact that in Wood Green, we are extremely fortunate
in having the type of mother who appreciates the value of such
scientific measures as vaccination,
Tuberculos is
Sixty seven cases of tuberculosis (61 pulmonary 6 non pulmon
ary) were notified during the year, as against 94 cases in 1954
Of the 67 cases, 11 were transferred from other districts, 56
being new cases.
A broad classification of the new notifications during the past three years in relation to employment was:
| 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerical | 12 | 16 | 12 |
| Manual Labour | 23 | 14 | 17 |
| Housewives | 11 | 20 | 8 |
| Factory Workers | 4 | 7 | - |
| Children | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Professional classes | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Domestic Service | - | - | 2 |
| Nurses | - | - | 1 |
| Shop.Assistants | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Armed Forces | - | - | 2 |
| Retired Persons | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Unclassified | 8 | 8 | 1 |
| 71 | 81 | 56 |
The number of cases on the register at the end of the year was as follows:-
| Pulmonary | 287 males | Non-pulmonary: | 10 | males |
| 252 females | 39 | females | ||
| Total | 539 | Total | 49 |
It will be seen that the number of new tuberculosis cases
notified dropped from 81 in 1954 to 56 in 1955.1 would again emphasise,
however, that these totals are much too small to allow
of any significant conclusions being drawn
We still continue to work in very close harmony with the
Tottenham Chest Clinic.All families in which a case of tuberculosis
or suspected tuberculosis has occurred, and where the Chest
Clinic consider that adequate housing is essential, both from a
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