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for 1948 that there was some indication of an alteration in the biennial fluctuation,
since the figure in 1947 (334) was higher than usual during a quiet year for
measles.
The reduction in the scarlet fever incidence from 110 in 1948 to 74 in 1949 was
satisfactory.
The higher incidence of poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis was disappointing
as the Borough has had a good record for this disease, but out of the fourteen cases
seven were non-paralytic. One of the two deaths from polioencephalitis occurred
in a grammar school boy of 16, who had been training for school sports and it
seems likely that over-exertion may have played its part in reducing this boy's
resistance to the infection. The other case who died was a young man, one of
whose relations living in the house was an employee of a civil airways
corporation, travelling to various places abroad. An interesting point about this
case was that this relative had two years previously been in close contact with
a case of poliomyelitis, but in the present state of knowledge concerning this
disease it was impossible to complete any definite investigations which might
relate to this fact the illness occurring in this house in which, as well as the
case which died, there was another simultaneous case of paralytic poliomyelitis.
Provision of Antitoxin.
The Council provided antitoxin free to local practitioners for cases of
diphtheria in the district.
The Ministry of Health also sanctioned the supply of tetanus antitoxin by the
Council to local practitioners if such should be required.
Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins were obtainable at the Health Department
during office hours.
Disinfection.
In cases of infectious disease, rooms, clothing, etc., were disinfected—rooms
by sealing and fumigating with formalin or a formalin preparation; clothing,
bedding and other infected articles by removal for disinfection in the Council's
disinfector at Salisbury Road Depot.

Two mattresses were destroyed.
Cancer.
It will be seen by the table of causes of death (page 22) that in 1949 100 cases
(46 males and 54 females) died from cancer. (See Appendix, Tables VII and VIII.)
Special Infectious Diseases.
Smallpox (Variola).
No patients with smallpox, but 3 contacts of cases of smallpox occurring on
board ship, were notified to the Department from the Port Authorities during the
year. The contacts were kept under supervision for the requisite period, but no
illness developed.
Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina).
The number of notifications received during the year was 74, as compared
with 110 for the previous year.